Chief in the North Newsletter Status Report and some new goals

What we've done, how it's gone, and what to expect moving forward

So here’s the deal… I never really thought (dreamed? Imagined?) that this place would become what it has.

When I first started the Chief in the North Newsletter back in June of 2020, it was the fulfillment of something I’d wanted to do for a long time… provide content directly to Chiefs fans in as niche a manner as I wanted, without worrying about SEO or clickbait or any of that other stuff. However, I figured it would be a side project, something for a few diehards who wanted to go on this deranged journey of examining the Chiefs as deeply as humanly possible alongside me.

Now we’re past the strangest football season in memory, and it’s time to acknowledge something that I couldn’t believe was happening even as it happened: this site became much more than a side project as the season went along, thanks to you.

What does that mean? It means that because of the support and subscribing that’s occurred, I’ve been able to dedicate a lot of time and attention to this place, writing articles like this one that got recognition from The Ringer and other national sites:

Seth Keysor @RealMNchiefsfan

Patrick Mahomes is quantifiably better than anyone in the last 20 years when in tough spots. Brady, Peyton, Rodgers... Anyone. I wrote about what the numbers and film show, and why the normal rules don't apply to KC. Unlocked for all. Merry Christmas!

mnchiefsfan.substack.comQuantifiably clutch: Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are an exception to every ruleAn examination of what Mahomes and the Chiefs do when trailing shows why they’re so dangerous in close games.

I’ve written over 85 articles over the last 8 months. 10 per month, more than double my initial goals. I’ve been able to do that solely because you people are amazing in your willingness to subscribe, read, and provide feedback on what I’m doing here. So I wanted to say thank you, first and foremost.

Second, I want to set some plans moving forward. A month in, I announced that I was going to try to increase publishing goals to a couple times a week. I was able to do that throughout the season thanks to all of you. My private hope was that if we could hit 2,000 subscribers by the start of the 2021 season, we’d be really going somewhere. We passed that goal (dream?) in January, a full 8 months ahead of when I’d hoped for.

But even better, I see a community beginning to form here with regular commenters talking not just to me, but to each other. That’s been such an awesome thing!

So it’s time for the next step. While I plan on continuing to contribute at The Athletic, my primary focus is going to be this place and providing the most content possible here. For a long-term goal, I intend on making this my permanent home for as long as Substack lets me.

This doesn’t mean the price is going to change. That’s in part because it drives Brisco insane, but also because I want this to be as accessible as possible for as many people as possible. So the “60% off,” $12 a year subscription price is here to stay, even as this place becomes a source of more and more content. (use the button below to subscribe for that price if you haven’t, by the way)

So long story short… the status report is that things are better than I ever could have imagined, and THANK YOU! Now it’s time to aim for more, and I need you for that.

Let me know in the comments what sort of content you’d like to see more of, or new avenues you’d love to see explored. I can’t promise I’ll say “yes” to everything, but one thing I love about this manner of content production is that I can talk directly to you, the reader. So let me hear your thoughts! I can handle constructive criticism and would love to hear if you think there are ways this place can be better (or if you just want to tell me you’re having as much fun as I am, better yet)!

Thank you again, and I can’t wait to keep things rolling. It really is a good time to be a Chiefs fan, folks.