Chicago sports personalities David Kaplan and Ryan McGuffey are reaping rewards for a side hustle that's taken off in a major way: their YouTube channel, The REKAP. With nearly 243,000 subscribers and more than 3,700 videos viewed over 12 million times, the duo has built an online empire that's generating significant revenue from ads and sponsorships.
The idea for The REKAP was born during lunch in February 2022, when McGuffey convinced Kaplan to leave his day job at NBC Sports Chicago (NBCSCH) to focus on the channel full-time. Initially, the channel's content consisted of short post-game analysis videos that gained traction among fans. However, as the subscriber count grew, so did the ambition.
Kaplan and McGuffey quickly realized they needed to up their game if they wanted to stay ahead of the curve. They expanded their scope to include interviews with high-profile athletes, which became a viral sensation. The LaVar Ball interview sparked controversy, but it also propelled The REKAP into the stratosphere.
In October 2023, NBCSCH offered buyouts to its employees based on tenure. Kaplan took advantage of this opportunity and left his job for good, joining forces with McGuffey as a full-time partner in The REKAP. With Kaplan's expertise behind the mic and McGuffey's content creation skills, the channel has become an unstoppable force.
As the subscriber count continues to soar, Kaplan and McGuffey are now exploring new avenues of revenue through advertising and sponsorships. They've also expanded their content offerings to include live shows like "Lunch Hour with Guff." The REKAP has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting fans from all corners of the sports world.
In an emotional conversation at Pennyville Station, Kaplan revealed his intentions to make McGuffey a partner in The REKAP. Now, with two young kids to support, McGuffey is finally able to make a living doing what he loves. As he reflected on their journey, he confessed that his expectations for the channel have changed dramatically.
"Everything has exceeded my wildest dreams," McGuffey said. "I don't know where it's going, but I do know it's farther than I ever envisioned."
The idea for The REKAP was born during lunch in February 2022, when McGuffey convinced Kaplan to leave his day job at NBC Sports Chicago (NBCSCH) to focus on the channel full-time. Initially, the channel's content consisted of short post-game analysis videos that gained traction among fans. However, as the subscriber count grew, so did the ambition.
Kaplan and McGuffey quickly realized they needed to up their game if they wanted to stay ahead of the curve. They expanded their scope to include interviews with high-profile athletes, which became a viral sensation. The LaVar Ball interview sparked controversy, but it also propelled The REKAP into the stratosphere.
In October 2023, NBCSCH offered buyouts to its employees based on tenure. Kaplan took advantage of this opportunity and left his job for good, joining forces with McGuffey as a full-time partner in The REKAP. With Kaplan's expertise behind the mic and McGuffey's content creation skills, the channel has become an unstoppable force.
As the subscriber count continues to soar, Kaplan and McGuffey are now exploring new avenues of revenue through advertising and sponsorships. They've also expanded their content offerings to include live shows like "Lunch Hour with Guff." The REKAP has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting fans from all corners of the sports world.
In an emotional conversation at Pennyville Station, Kaplan revealed his intentions to make McGuffey a partner in The REKAP. Now, with two young kids to support, McGuffey is finally able to make a living doing what he loves. As he reflected on their journey, he confessed that his expectations for the channel have changed dramatically.
"Everything has exceeded my wildest dreams," McGuffey said. "I don't know where it's going, but I do know it's farther than I ever envisioned."
! Kaplan and McGuffey are total rockstars for makin' their day job obsolete 
. The way they pivoted from post-game analysis to viral interviews with big names was pure genius 
. And now they're rakin' it in from ads and sponsorships 
. It's dope that they get to support each other and McGuffey can finally live the dream w/ his fam 
. their "Lunch Hour with Guff" show sounds 
they're doing something right. and that LaVar Ball interview tho... controversy got them attention for sure 
anyway, its dope to see friends supporting each other like this. Kaplan and McGuffey are the ultimate example of how hard work + dedication = success 
now they get to live their best lives with kids and all the $$ they can handle 
Their chemistry is undeniable, and it's awesome to see McGuffey finally being able to support his family with The REKAP. It's crazy how far they've come in just a few years - I'm excited to see what's next for them! 
I'm low-key surprised this isn't a scam. Like, 243k subs and 12 million views? That's either super impressive or a lot of bots 
. And LaVar Ball's interview sparking controversy? Please, that was just a desperate attempt to get clicks and attention. I bet there's more to the story than meets the eye... like, are they really making as much money as they claim? 
. Now they get to create content that matters & live their best lives with the fam... goal achieved 
I remember when they first started out, posting those post-game vids and people were like "meh" but now they're household names. And the LaVar Ball interview, wow... that was a wild ride 
. It's amazing to see them both thriving together as partners. I guess you could say their channel is a cultural phenomenon now 
... what's next, they'll be breaking the internet with their next big thing! 
. the fact that they're exploring new revenue streams like live shows is a great sign of their ambition 
. can't wait to see what the future holds for The REKAP! 
just great, another example of people making bank off of their sports personality, meanwhile the real athletes are struggling to make ends meet. 243k subs and over 12m views is a lot, but what about all the unpaid internships they had to work on before Kaplan left his day job? 
at least now McGuffey can support his kids, I guess that's something. 
.
.
. It's incredible to see their channel become a cultural phenomenon, bringing people from all over the sports world together 
.
. That's code for "it's beyond our control" or maybe even a hint of "we're in over our heads". The LaVar Ball interview was definitely a masterstroke, but what was behind that? Was it just a viral sensation or something more? There's gotta be some hidden agenda at play here... 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to watch two sports personalities go at it for hours on end? 
. The fact that they were able to pivot and expand their content offerings to include live shows is genius 
. Overall, I'm just excited to see what the future holds for REKAP! 
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."