When it comes to sports documentaries, HBO’s Hard Knocks was revolutionary. It may be impossible to believe it now, but Hard Knocks has been around since 2001 when the Baltimore Ravens first took the plunge to allow HBO cameras into their training camp. Since that time the NFL has had a team highlighted every year as they prepare for the regular season. To help put that in perspective, that’s the year that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers.

Now comes news that Hard Knocks will keep going for at least a little while longer.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that HBO and the NFL have agreed to a four year contract extension that will keep the series rolling on. It’s great news for fans of the league and fans of great behind-the-scenes style television.

Hard Knocks has been the inspiration for just about every similarly-fashioned behind the scenes documentary about sports. 24/7, All Access, the list goes on and on and on. Without the success of Hard Knocks, none of those programs probably exist today. The show has offered up some classic moments over the years. Who could forget Rex Ryan’s inspirational snack-related speech from a few years ago.

While Hard Knocks has always been pretty popular with fans and the NFL league office, teams have blown hot and cold with the series over the years and the access they have to give up to HBO. With NFL head coaches notorious for treating the smallest of details like top secret government information, it’s always a surprise when a team volunteers to be on the show. That’s why the turning point in Hard Knocks’ long-term viability probably came a few years ago when the NFL mandated that teams had to appear as long as they didn’t fall under a certain criteria.

That criteria featuring a combination of previous appearances on the show, having a new coach, and making the playoffs means that there’s always going to be a team that has to let HBO in and let all of America in as well. While HBO hasn’t announced the team that will feature on this season’s version, they have some pretty compelling candidates to choose from including the Saints, Bears, and Browns.

[Sports Business Journal]