Why I'm joining Substack: Where my Washington Commanders coverage and insider info belong

After six incredible years covering the Washington Commanders for The Athletic, I’m launching something new, but still familiar. Last Man Standig, already the name of my established podcast, is now the new home for all things Commanders: insider reporting, in-depth analysis, interviews, roster intel, all things Jayden Daniels, and whatever else helps make sense of one of the NFL’s most compelling franchises.

If you’ve followed my work, you know the goal has never been to just track the news —it’s to explain what it means. Whether I’m breaking a story, speaking with decision-makers, or watching practice from the sidelines, I strive to bring context, clarity, and a touch of candor to everything I do. That won’t change here.

So, why Substack?
It’s not about the platform. It is about the freedom. Just as in 2018 when I joined two colleagues in launching The Sports Capitol, a subscription-based site, this move is about reclaiming control of the coverage. Back then, we saw how the chase for clicks and ad revenue was warping the kind of stories that got told, while local Washington football coverage began shrinking. And while The Athletic helped fill some of those gaps, over time, its hyper-local mission began to drift too.

With Last Man Standig, no editor or boss is putting a thumb on the scale from hundreds of miles away. Just me, this community, and a shared commitment to honest, in-depth, local-first football journalism.

I’ve always been here— something not everyone on the beat can say, but something countless of you can. Many of you still live in Bethesda, Glover Park, or Falls Church, places I’ve called home during my lifelong DMV career. Others have moved far from the Beltway but never from the team.

If you’ve followed my work and are reading this, it’s because you stuck with the Commanders even when there were umpteen reasons to bail. Your loyalty was rewarded with the thrilling Daniels, a magical 2024 season, and a real reason to believe. You deserve coverage that understands that journey and a reporter who does too. This one went from wearing a John Riggins jersey to interviewing the Hall of Famer.

This format enables me to delve deeper, move faster, and establish a direct connection with the most engaged Commander fans around. I’ll still bring the reporting, the locker room access, the “who’s really making the roster” nuggets, and the big-picture questions. But I’ll also be writing with more freedom and more voice — and I’m excited about that.

Here’s what annual and monthly members can expect from Last Man Standig:

• 3–4 subscriber-only posts per week

• Deep dives into player development, game strategy, and front-office moves

• In-depth training camp coverage and Week 1 roster projections

• Breaking news and post-game coverage from the stadium

• NFL Draft coverage and mock drafts

• Year 7 of the NFL Agent Survey

• X’s and O’s analysis

• Additional audio content

• Weekly private subscriber chats and priority placement in mailbag posts

• Become part of a community

For Front Office Members:

• Everything listed above for annual and monthly members

• Exclusive access to Ben Standig

• Private fantasy football league where you can take on Ben

• Additional insider content and perks

• My everlasting appreciation

Free subscribers will have access to occasional posts. The “Last Man Standig” podcast will continue to be available outside the site, with new episodes released after every training camp practice and 4–5 episodes per week during the season.

As a further incentive, the annual and monthly rate will be discounted through this opening week of training camp.

Whether you’re a long-time reader or just discovering my work, thank you for being here. This space is for the diehards, the curious, and everyone trying to make sense of a team that rarely makes things boring.

This launch takes me back to my roots. When The Washington Post covered the debut of The Sports Capitol, I was quoted saying: “There’s no complaining about the boss anymore… Now it’s on us.” Years later, nothing has changed.

I hope you’ll subscribe, spread the word, and help build this community from the ground up. The Commanders are entering a new era—and so am I. Let’s cover the hell out of it.