Tim Meyer is a Duluth architect and community builder. Reach him at tim.meyer@meyergroupduluth.com
By any measure, the transition from the Duluth Harbor Monsters to the Minnesota Monsters required an adjustment for local fans.
Like many supporters, I was reluctant to see the Duluth identity disappear. Community sports franchises often become part of a city's fabric, and the Harbor Monsters quickly established a strong connection with local fans. But after watching the Minnesota Monsters compete in Arena Football One this season, it is difficult to argue with the results.
What Duluth has gained is high-level professional football, affordable family entertainment and another attraction capable of drawing visitors to the city. Every game creates additional activity for AMSOIL Arena, Canal Park, downtown restaurants and local businesses. In a tourism-driven community, that matters.
Just as important, the product on the field has been impressive.
AF1 features a deeper talent pool than many casual fans might realize. Rosters include former NFL, CFL and Arena Football League players, along with standout NCAA Division I and Division II athletes who continue pursuing professional careers. Many possess the athletic ability to compete at higher levels and are using AF1 as a proving ground.
The Monsters are led by quarterback Ja'Vonte Johnson, who has emerged as one of the league's most exciting players. Johnson recently earned AF1 Most Valuable Player of the Week honors after throwing eight touchdown passes and 258 yards in a 69-32 victory over the Kentucky Barrels.
Johnson combines arm strength, accuracy and mobility. He is equally comfortable delivering passes from the pocket or escaping pressure to extend plays with his legs. His quick release and decision-making ability have made him one of the league's premier quarterbacks.
The Monsters also have capable depth behind him. Backup quarterback Tyriq Starks has performed well in relief appearances and has directed several productive drives when called upon. Starks arrived in Minnesota with significant experience after throwing for more than 2,300 yards during his collegiate career at Howard University.
Perhaps the most recognizable player on the roster for Minnesota sports fans is running back Shannon Brooks.
The former University of Minnesota standout remains one of the most accomplished athletes in the league. Brooks rushed for 2,290 yards and 20 touchdowns during his collegiate career and later gained professional experience in both the Indoor Football League and Canadian Football League.
His impact on the Monsters' offense cannot be overstated.
While most arena football teams rely almost exclusively on the passing game, Minnesota has built one of AF1's most effective rushing attacks. Brooks gives the Monsters a dimension many opponents simply do not possess. His combination of power, vision and acceleration has allowed Minnesota to control games in ways rarely seen in arena football. He currently ranks among the league's rushing leaders and has already produced several explosive runs exceeding 40 yards.
The Monsters' receiving corps is equally dangerous.
Wide receiver Jamal Couch has developed into one of the league's most difficult matchups. The former Mississippi State player was instrumental in the Harbor Monsters' championship season and continues to produce at a high level.
Couch combines size, athleticism and route-running ability, making him a constant threat in the red zone and downfield passing game. His ability to create separation gives Johnson a reliable target on virtually every possession.
One of the more entertaining aspects of Minnesota's offense has been its short-yardage package. With Brooks running behind a powerful offensive line, the Monsters often deploy oversized linemen in goal-line situations, creating a throwback style of football built on physicality and power.
Away from the field, AF1 has done an impressive job making its product accessible.
Games are broadcast live on the HTN platform and VICE TV, while full game replays are available through the league's YouTube channels shortly after completion. That accessibility has helped increase visibility for both the league and its teams.
The broadcasts are professionally produced and feature experienced play-by-play announcers and analysts with arena football backgrounds. Combined with the fast pace of the game, limited downtime between plays and constant scoring opportunities, AF1 has created an entertaining television product.
Football remains America's most popular sport, and spring football continues to gain traction through leagues such as AF1 and the UFL. For Duluth, the Monsters provide another quality entertainment option during the summer months while helping establish the city as a destination for professional sports.
More importantly, the franchise should be viewed as a regional asset.
The name Minnesota Monsters reflects an opportunity to attract fans from across northern Minnesota rather than solely from Duluth. If the organization continues to build on its current foundation, the franchise could become a long-term community and economic asset for the Twin Ports region.
As for my longtime dream of bringing Canadian Football League football to Duluth, that remains just that — a dream.
The CFL continues to offer one of the most entertaining versions of football anywhere, with its larger field, unique rules and wide-open style of play. The league's brief American expansion during the 1990s ultimately failed, although the Baltimore Stallions famously captured the Grey Cup in 1995 before the U.S. experiment ended.
Could a future CFL franchise ever call Duluth home? Probably not. But a few years ago, many people would have said the same thing about professional arena football.
Today, the Minnesota Monsters are proving otherwise.
