Camp Confidential: Training Camp with the Carolina Panthers had long been a staple of the organization before I joined as Head of Digital Video Production in 2022. But with longform documentaries and in-depth storytelling as my specialty, I saw an opportunity to elevate the series and deliver an even more compelling product for fans ahead of the 2022 season.

The summer of ‘22, the Panthers made headlines by trading for quarterback Baker Mayfield, setting up a high-profile competition with then-starter Sam Darnold. With national attention on training camp, I knew this was a story we had to tell. The idea of mic’d-up moments between the two quarterbacks, capturing the intensity of the battle firsthand, was too good to pass up.

There was just one problem—getting approval. The football staff was hesitant to allow that level of access, particularly when it came to mic’ing up either quarterback in practice. Looking back, this stands out as one of my biggest wins with the Panthers. I initiated meetings, engaged in back-and-forth discussions with leadership, and made the case for why this inside look was essential for building fan excitement and buy-in.

Ultimately, we secured approval, and our digital team captured exclusive mic’d-up footage from separate practice days. Through strategic editing, we seamlessly blended the two sessions into a single, high-energy narrative that showcased both the intensity of the competition and the camaraderie between Mayfield and Darnold.

While Episode 1 focused on the battle for the starting job, Episode 2 highlighted Mayfield officially winning the role—featuring an exclusive interview where he reflected on the opportunity ahead.

Both episodes were met with excitement and rave reviews. In fact, our digital team’s efforts on Camp Confidential were credited by the Team President as a key factor in a dramatic increase in season ticket purchases shortly after the debut of Episode 1.

That parallel structure was on full display in episode 2, which focused on the Panthers’ joint practice with the New York Jets. With Aaron Rodgers in town, we capitalized on the moment by mic’ing up defensive end Brian Burns—who relentlessly chased Rodgers all practice—and tight end Hayden Hurst, whose fiery intensity led to a few clashes with the Jets' defense.

A standout moment closes out Episode 1 of Camp Confidential ’24—our new Head Coach, Dave Canales, a "rookie" himself, took part in the team’s tradition of performing a karaoke song during a meeting. His choice? Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.

Bringing this moment to life was a collaborative effort, led by Jack Chapman and our Head of Content, Greg Bostrom, as they worked to secure clearance from the record label. The payoff was huge—not only did it make for a great individual post on our social channels, but it also became a defining moment that energized the fanbase, perfectly capturing the youthful, infectious energy the franchise needed.

In the three seasons that I’ve worked on Camp Confidential (‘22,‘23, ‘24) my team and I have continually raised the bar in production quality, always striving to build excitement for the season ahead. The response has been incredible, with millions of impressions across digital platforms. While this graphic to the left is just a small sample of positive fan feedback on YouTube, it represents a much larger wave of engagement and enthusiasm sparked by the series.

Camp Confidential '23 built on the foundation of Panthers Blueprint, giving us the opportunity to showcase new personalities and emerging leaders on a mostly revamped roster. In episode 1, we experimented with "double mic’ing"—a technique where we mic up two players during the same practice. This required additional videographers dedicated to capturing mic’d-up moments but elevated our storytelling by allowing us to weave parallel narratives.

I've been working full-time in the NFL since 2014, with two years as an intern before that—making the 2024 season my 13th in the league. Each year brings new challenges and fresh storylines, and a major hurdle for us in 2024 was the Panthers’ decision to move training camp from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Charlotte.

At first glance, the change didn’t seem too difficult logistically—until we realized our practice space had shrunk from four football fields to just two. Tight quarters made it challenging for our digital crew to capture ideal angles, but despite the constraints, we produced one of our best-looking shows yet. And I have to admit, the Charlotte skyline provided a pretty incredible backdrop.