They say there's no offseason in the National Football League.
From free agency and the draft to uncovering the next diamond in the rough, there are tireless days, countless meetings and constant maneuvers that shape the Kansas City Chiefs into a championship contender.
It's critical – not to mention fascinating - work, but unlike the vivacity of game day, it largely takes place out of the public eye.
"The Franchise" is here to change that.
Crafted with exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, The Franchise – a brand-new content series unmatched in the NFL - provides Chiefs' fans with a glimpse inside One Arrowhead Drive. It's a production unlike any other designed just for Chiefs Kingdom – from a trip inside the war room on draft weekend to on-location features with the players themselves.
"This is an incredibly exciting time for our content team and the organization as we launch our first in-depth series that follows the team throughout the year," said Chiefs Vice President of Content and Digital Operations Mike Cukyne. "Fans throughout Chiefs Kingdom and beyond continue to consume huge amounts of Chiefs content and demand that we reach them in new and unique ways. Our crew has been offered incredible access, trust and support from the top down for this project and we know that fans will appreciate all the time, energy and work that goes into this series."
The show hit the air on May 29, debuting on the Chiefs' YouTube and Facebook channels in addition to FOX Sports Midwest. More than 267,000 viewers tuned in on the Chiefs' digital platforms alone as the pilot episode provided never-before-seen access over its 28-minute runtime.
That included exclusive interviews with Head Coach Andy Reid and General Manager Brett Veach, trips to the Pro Bowl and Senior Bowl back when the offseason first got underway, a glimpse inside how Veach and his scouts – along with surprise guest Eric Stonestreet – broke down tape prior to the NFL Draft, quarterback Patrick Mahomes' experience at the Madden 20 photoshoot in Los Angeles and much more in between.
It's simply must-see television for every member of Chiefs Kingdom, as fans have watched 1.4 million minutes of the show on YouTube over the last two weeks. In fact, 2,800 subscribers followed the Chiefs’ YouTube channel from the show alone.
Chiefs' fans clearly desire this exclusive access, and there's plenty more on the way.
The show will air every other Wednesday on YouTube, Facebook and Fox Sports moving forward, continuing with this week's episode that will focus on the Scouting Combine, defensive end Frank Clark's arrival in Kansas City and the NFL Draft.
In the coming weeks and months, The Franchise will deliver access to the Chiefs' offseason workout programs – from rookie minicamp to training camp up in St. Joseph – and it will continue to do so throughout the 2019 regular season on a weekly basis.
It's an opportunity to kick back, relax and take a peek behind the curtain as the Chiefs pursue legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. When something happens in Chiefs Kingdom, The Franchise will be there to capture it.
Catch The Franchise every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the Chiefs' YouTube and Facebook pages and Fox Sports Midwest. Set a reminder to check out this week's episode on YouTube by clicking here.
