While he was waiting for a call from his agent in September, Isaac Rochelle, a professional football player, watched the opening weekend games of the National Football League on television with his infant daughter. His wife needed a babysitter.
Rochelle’s wife and an online influencer with more than three million TikTok followers, Allison Kucharczyk was closer to the field thanks to a partnership with NBC Sports. He was born in Kansas City, Mo. I was criss-crossing continents on a private jet with other content creators to document discounted tailgates, discounted food and stadium atmospheres at NFL game weekends. Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Detroit.
By documenting her lifestyle as the wife of a professional athlete, Kucharczyk has become more famous than Rochelle, who reached the highest levels of her sport but never became a household name. When out in public together, Rochelle said, people sometimes ask for Kucharczyk’s autograph instead.
“It doesn’t hurt my ego — I’m excited for it — but it was crazy,” said Rochelle, a defensive lineman who has played for four NFL teams in seven seasons.
As the NFL and its media partners look to more female viewers, they are increasingly aligning themselves with players’ wives and girlfriends. (Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift collaboration was inevitable last season.) They hope that potential fans who aren’t interested in sports jargon and players beating each other up on the field might instead respond to the ensembles and glamorized experiences in luxury suites.
“When women see me sharing about the NFL, they’re finally like, ‘Wow I can actually be interested in something other than just the stats,'” Kocharzek, 29, said. “I think there’s a place for everybody in sports.“
“You don’t have to be a big name to get people invested in your story,” she added.
Rochelle, 29, played college football at Notre Dame and was a seventh-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. While he struggled to stay on teams’ rosters for several seasons, he was also regularly active on their social media channels. Volunteer for projects. He proposed to Kucharczyk, whom he met at a college party, while recording the Chargers podcast in 2020.
“If you spend five minutes with Allison and Isaac, you see their chemistry and how genuine they are,” said Jason LaVine, the Chargers’ senior vice president of brand creative and content. “That’s the kind of relationship you want to feature on your feed.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, the couple posted regularly on TikTok. Rochell took viewers behind the scenes of NFL routines, including the buffet-style meals players eat the night before a game. Many of Kucharczyk’s posts revealed the less glamorous side of Rochelle’s nomadic career, such as living apart and packing to move cities — Indianapolis, Cleveland, Las Vegas — whenever he changed teams.
While nine months pregnant, Kucharzek, who worked as an interior designer, told followers that she cried when the Las Vegas Raiders released Rochelle, weeks before her due date in November 2023. . Kucharczyk, who admits she has financial resources not available to everyone, says the online community she’s cultivated has helped her through her chaotic moments.
“I think sharing makes me feel less alone,” she said.
As the couple’s social presence grew, the NFL noticed. The league sent Rochelle a jersey with a “Mr. Kuch” name plate and Kucharczyk was a red carpet representative at a Super Bowl event last year. The couple also participated in a voter registration drive with former President Barack Obama.
“In this next generation of content creators, they understand how they can both be successful and what they need to do to support each other,” said Ian Trombetta, NFL senior vice president of social, impact. Motivational and content marketing said.
British tabloids coined the acronym “WAG” (wives and girlfriends) two decades ago to refer to the partners of soccer players, and many famous soccer players had equally famous wives. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen was one. Public Advocate for Tom Brady First Their 13-year marriage ended In 2022, and Singer Ciara married quarterback Russell Wilson. In 2016.
But it was Swift’s relationship with Kells That sparked a new level of interest.
Kristen JozicThe wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszek launched a clothing line this month after designing outerwear for Swift and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (who is married to Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens). Fox Sports Recorded a part This season with Alix Earle, a TikTok sensation with seven million followers who is dating Miami Dolphins receiver Braxton Berrios. And this month, Netflix will release a series.“WAGs to Riches,” which follows the significant others of athletes and entertainers, including Keita Hill, wife of Dolphins receiver Tyreke Hill.
Rochelle never got that call from his agent, but he’s still training in hopes that an NFL team will sign him. Even if she has to retire, the league said she will continue to work with the pair.
“It’s actually easier because he’ll have more time,” Trombetta said with a laugh.