Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected for HBO's 'Hard Knocks'

TAMPA, Fla. – It's official: HBO is heading to Tampa this summer.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Wednesday that they will be the team featured in the 12th season of HBO's "Hard Knocks."

The Buccaneers were selected from eight available teams in the NFL this season. Teams are not eligible to be featured on "Hard Knocks" if they have a first-year head coach, have made the playoffs in the past two years, or have been featured on the show in the past 10 years.

"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have everything we look for when it comes to 'Hard Knocks'," NFL Films senior director Ross Ketover said. "A young, dynamic team filled with big names; an experienced coaching staff focused on taking their squad to the next level."

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several young promising stars, including former Florida State Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Gerald McCoy.

Although many fear a "Hard Knocks" curse, believing the show will take away from the team's focus on football, head coach Dirk Koetter has no worries about the show ruining their season. Koetter was a part of the show during the 2014 Atlanta Falcons season.

"I think it will not only be good for Bucs fans but for NFL fans around the country. We've got some great young guys here. I think there are some good stories there," Koetter said.

The players are excited too. Quarterback Jameis Winston reacted saying, "The whole world gets to see how great of an organization this is." 

The five episode season will begin Aug. 8 on HBO. 

View the "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers" tease here: