Happy anniversary, Detroit Football Network

Who could forget our logo at launch? We’ve come a long way in a year.

Allen Park — It’s so easy to say thank you. Finding the right words to express the depth of my gratitude has proved more challenging.

One year ago, I launched the Detroit Football Network. Today, we celebrate our anniversary. While I’m behind the curtain pulling the levers, this operation could never exist without you. This was always designed, and will continue forward, as an audience-centric publication.

The seed for the venture sprouted in late 2023, in casual conversations around grand hypotheticals with trusted confidants. Throughout the process, I was looking for good reasons to be told, “Don’t.” The most obvious effort was a thoroughly researched request for a raise from my former employer. However, the universe continued to steer me toward independence, my resolve strengthening each week as a self-imposed deadline drew near.

I never doubted this could work. I trusted in my ability to produce honest, thoughtful and comprehensive content that you would want to read about the team you loved. And I believed in our connection, one that has been cultivated over two dedicated decades of work in local media.

What I didn’t know was how long it would take. Of course, I had goals. I wanted to reach 100 paid subscribers by the end of training camp, 1,000 by the end of the first season, and achieve full salary replacement within two years.

Yet, even my most aggressive estimations didn’t prepare me for your tidal wave of love and support. More than 100 of you signed up within the first hour. I reached the two-year goal shortly after the start of the regular season. And while the growth tapered, things have held strong through the first year, including this offseason.

Our community can claim at least one person in all 50 states and 80 countries worldwide. How cool is that?

What I was able to deliver in return was more than 500 stories, almost certainly totaling more than a million words, if you include direct responses to your comments and questions in the chat. Furthermore, you received at least one new piece of content in your inbox for more than 200 consecutive days following our launch.

When I opened the doors, I promised to continue producing historically popular items, from mailbags to film reviews to my “Three and Out” columns after each game. I also vowed to continue innovating my coverage. Some well-received examples were the “Pressers and Scrums” series, which offered a one-stop shop for the day-to-day coverage from Allen Park, and “Thoughts to End the Week,” which provided me an opportunity to add some free-flowing analysis and opinion to the week that was.

Each step of the way, I tried to pull back the curtain. I wanted to keep you informed about what I was working on and why I was writing it, while always keeping my eyes and ears open to what was on your mind, in case I needed to pivot.

There were also some experiments along the way. I hopped into an ice bath alongside Dan Skipper, burning the bottom of my feet for what turned out to be a damn good interview with the closest thing the roster has to a folk hero.

I also launched a podcast with two people I respect greatly, Mike “Stoney” Stone and Will Burchfield. It’s probably a good time to mention the plug was pulled on that this week. Not because any of us were unhappy with the quality of the product, but because it lacked behind-the-scenes momentum as a sustainable product.

Plans are underway to retool and relaunch in that space in the near future. I’m just working through a few more details. Stay tuned.

Going forward, the mission of the Detroit Football Network remains the same. Quantity, quality, communication, and a consistent effort to innovate.

As long as you're supporting the mission, I’ll be driven to deliver. Beyond subscribing, I would appreciate hearing from you consistently. That can be as simple as clicking a button to acknowledge you liked a story. More importantly, feedback and questions in the comments of those stories, as well as the site's chat, all contribute to shaping coverage. Every bit of it matters.

That was a lot of words to say that I'm thrilled I made this bet, I'm grateful you joined me, and let's make the upcoming year better than the last.