Isaac Rochell’s release from the Raiders earlier this week already had a painful note to it. The defensive end was cut loose on Tuesday, which he announced on social media shortly thereafter.
What made the transaction particularly distressing was that the decision came hours after the Raiders posted a video about Rochell and his brother serving in the Air Force as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service campaign. Rochell responded by acknowledging the poor timing of those events.
(Ironically, his bio on X—formerly Twitter—says, “I’ve been advised to stop tweeting random stuff.”)
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
However, another side of the transaction and a glimpse of the difficulties of life in the NFL was soon revealed by Rochell’s wife. Allison Kuch, a social media influencer, posted a video explaining that she was pregnant and due to deliver the couple’s first child in December.
“At the end of the day, the NFL is a business and my husband and I are fine,” Kuch told viewers. “We are OK. We have each other. But I would be lying if I said this didn’t affect me or that I didn’t care or it didn’t make me emotional.”
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“Our baby’s due date is in four weeks,” she added. “Yeah, I was crying when I found out my husband was being released.”
Kuch went on to explain the NFL waiver process to fans who might not be familiar with such procedures. After clearing waivers, Rochell is now free to sign with any other NFL team and either be added to a 53-man roster or practice squad.
Yet uprooting a life and household during an already strenous time would be difficult for anyone. Kuch’s video provides some insight beyond the transaction posted on news wires and social media.
