Influencer Allison Kuch amassed a following online by sharing the ins and outs of life as an NFL wife. Now that she’s a mom, the 29-year-old is ready to dive a little deeper.
The TikToker exclusively opened up to Us Weekly about her “journey” of self-discovery, admitting that it’s “been tough” to hone in on her own identity after welcoming daughter Scottie with husband Isaac Rochell in December 2023.
“There’s so many life changes [with] becoming a mom and also Isaac not playing football right now, I’m like, ‘Wait, whoa, what’s going on?’” Kuch told Us, noting that the support of “a good partner” like Rochell, 29, has been a game changer during her “identity crisis.”
Rochell was released from his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders one month before Scottie was born and is currently a free agent. He joked that he “wouldn’t have thought” his wife “would have a harder time” than him with the change.
“I just try to give her space,” he explained. “I mean, my phrase is always like, ‘Whatever you need, we’ll do it.’ If she needs help with something, I’m like, ‘We’ll do it, it’s not a big deal.’”
During an episode of her “Sunday Sports Club” podcast last month, Kuch opened up about the uncertainty that has come with Rochell not playing in the NFL this season. “I definitely thought Isaac would’ve been on a team by now, I’m not gonna lie, and he would’ve said the same thing,” she confessed, adding that it’s been “weird” not seeing her husband on the field.
Despite what some football enthusiasts might think, Kuch argued there’s “no benefit” to Rochell officially retiring from the sport. “I didn’t think it would affect me this much,” she continued. “And I feel weird saying that because I’m just his wife. … Obviously, I know I’m way more than that, but at the end of the day, that’s what it looks like. So why would a player’s wife be affected by her husband not playing?”
Kuch explained that football season provided a “cadence” for her and Rochell, adding, “Football has given both of our lives a sense of purpose, a sense of community. When he’s not playing, right now, I feel like me and him are just like, ‘Wait, what are our bigger goals? What’s after football?’”
While working through the big life shift, Kuch told Us that she’s trying to find a new community. “I just became part of a new friend group in Orange County and I’m really excited because I’m like, ‘I think I’m gonna do a pottery class,’ and all the girls were like, ‘Oh, let’s do it together,’” she said. “I think finding simple things and fully embracing them, that’s my next step.”
Kuch also emphasized that she loves motherhood — even though it’s come with some challenges. “It makes me sad people are associating [this journey] with me becoming a mom,” she explained. “But in reality, I think it’s just me being like, ‘Wait, what am I passionate about?’”
When asked whether similar conversations have come up among other NFL spouses, Kuch noted that more often it’s the players who feel stuck. Rochell called Kuch “a pioneer,” praising the authentic approach she brings to tough topics on her podcast.
“It sounds dramatic to say, but I think Alli has been the first person to take advantage of social media in this space like she has,” he told Us. “[Her] identity is closely tied to football, which I think is why it’s been so challenging.”
Rochell hasn’t experienced the same feelings during his time away from the football field. “I’m so excited about whatever’s next, which could be getting a phone call to play tomorrow. Like, that’s fine,” he continued. “Or it could be supporting [my wife] and following my dreams, too.”
With so much of their future up in the air, the couple are leaning on one another as they settle into their next chapter. “I think it’s gonna be a fun evolving process and one where I might be taking on a little bit more professionally, going from being a wife to being like, ‘Oh wow, this is a sports figure,’” Kuch told Us. “I’m looking forward to that.”
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