The added benefit to the Pittsburgh Steelers improbable big to making the playoffs? They don’t have to worry about appearing on Hard Knocks this summer.
Had the Steelers been eliminated from postseason contention, they would’ve qualified for all three prongs to be on the show foe what would’ve been the first time ever.
By NFL rule, there are three ways teams can avoid being selected for the show.
1. Having a first-year head coach
2. Appearing on the show in the last 10 years
3. Making the playoffs within the last two seasons
Unless the Steelers decided to fire Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh had no “out” to avoid the cameras.