October 18, 2022 • 29 mins
On this week’s episode of Off the Record, Dannie chats with one of the first team reporters in the NFL, Jackie Schuler. At age 23, the Georgia native was hired by the New England Patriots. After stops back at home working in sports reporting, Jackie now goes by “Mom” after welcoming twins this year with Detroit Lions Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Josh Schuler. Jackie discusses her IVF journey and the support she and husband Josh received from Head Coach Dan Campbell.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today I'm featuring Jackie Schuler, one of the ogs for
team reporters in the NFL, after having been hired by
the New England Patriots at the age of twenty three. Detroit, though,
has been home for Jackie and husband Josh, the head
strength and conditioning coach for the Detroit lines since twenty sixteen.
Jackie talks her career in sports reporting along with her
Georgia roots, and she peels back the curtain on what
(00:22):
it's like being married into the NFL, the good and
the adversity that comes along with it, especially during the
Schuler's IVF journey that would result in their miracle babies.
Here is Jackie's story. I'm joined by Jackie Schuler, but
we have a ton of NFL fans that I assume
are tuning in, and the Patriot fans will know you
(00:42):
as Jackie Britton because once upon a time you were
the Patriots team reporter. Yeah, which is crazy to think.
How long ago was that. I know, my first year
was when I was twenty three, so that was ten
years ago. Just getting my age away, but that's fine.
So yeah, ten years ago was my first year with them,
and I was with them for three full seasons, so
twenty twelve through twenty fifteen technically, So yeah, it's a
(01:06):
good time. Another nugget about you is if people are
if you've heard the Shuler lastening before, it's because Josh
Chuhler is the head strength and condition coach here for
the Detroit Lions. Did you think ten years later after
the Patriots you would still be this immersed into the
NFL life. No, it's you know, our story is so crazy,
how I mean, if I was thought I was still
(01:27):
immersed in the NFL life, I thought I would be,
you know, still working as a reporter. But trying to
do that with someone who's a coach in the NFL
is just really hard because the hours, as you know,
are crazy, and so you know, it's really hard to
have both people working in the NFL. If you ever
want to see each other, it's you know, it's tough. So,
(01:48):
you know, when I moved up here after we got married,
you know, I looked for jobs in TV, and it's
obviously really hard to find a TV job, especially when
you're going to a specific market and you don't have
the flexibility to be like I'll go anywhere in the
count you know. Yeah, I know you're that doesn't happen. Yeah,
you know, I'm going here and I'm going to get
a job and try that doesn't happen, right, So, um,
it took a while to find a few things, and um,
(02:09):
you know, he's been blessed to be here as long
as This is his seventh season, so it's our third
head coach. Um, so we've been able to be here
as long as we have, and it's been a lot
of fun. It's kind of crazy how our world's connected,
including you right in my world and then now us
being together here. So yeah, throw back to twenty eighteen
when we first met ye in good old Toledo, Ohio.
(02:32):
Bcs Yes, so bcs N brought you in to host
their high school football show. Yes, and you're you were
used to hosting Georgia Football High School, um, which is
a beast. Ohio is Ohio is getting up there too? Yeah,
fun I had I felt like I had so much
to learn because I didn't know the landscape in Ohio.
So I was learning so much and like a short
(02:54):
amount of time. So I really leaned on you, and
you know, Mike and Mike and everybody else over there
was you too. So I was like, I always from here.
I never would have thought that. I was like, oh
my gosh, I'm so intimidated by all the stuff I
don't know, and everybody seemed like they knew everything, and um,
but yeah, I mean, I'm from Georgia, so I covered
high school football and Georgia, so obviously I knew the
(03:15):
landscape there. Was super comfortable with it and there. I mean,
I just I loved working for the Patriots. But there
is just something about high school football. I just love it.
And I don't know if it's like the purity of
the sport is still around and you know, the kids
and I remember covering like high school football championships at
the Georgia Dome, which is no longer there, rip, but um,
(03:37):
and just like the wide eyed nature of all the kids, like,
you know, to even make it to the state championships
and then you know, to know that that is the
end of a lot of these careers for a lot
of these guys. And so I really loved it, and
you know, so I was excited when the Toledo job
came up. I'd been up here for a year trying
to find something and did one season with you guys,
and man, it was a lot to keep up with.
(04:00):
It was it was fun. I mean, you know, it
was fun to get back into that world. So I
just there's something about that that I just I'll always
have a soft spot for the high school football. I
feel like it helps being raised born and raised in Georgia.
You're gonna have to help me out with where you're from.
I do. I am not, that's okay from Yeah, so
I'm from mcdonna, which, okay, thirty minutes south of Atlanta,
(04:22):
just to give a little context. And I feel like
a lot of people are like, oh, yeah, I'm from
Atlanta and that they're like from the north side, which
is all fine, we do that here with Detroit as well.
Yeah I'm like, oh, man, no whatever knows the south
side that's okay, Um, but it Yeah, so that's where
I'm from. And then, um, you know, I went to
college at Georgia State, and I started like video videoing
football practices in high school. Like we had a broadcasting
(04:44):
class and they're like, sure, you know, we need we
need some help, you know with tape in our games
or practices if you want to do that. So so
the actual football you were doing that for the football team.
Not yeah high school, okay, right, yeah, in high school
just to like you know, get some reps and stuff.
And then you know, college, I got more in rep
and then that's where I was able to intern at GPB.
When I was done with college, I interned there for
(05:05):
a year, had enough material to put a reel together.
Then I got the job with the Patriots from there
and was there for three years, and then actually ended
up going back to GPB because there was an anchor
position available and I was ready to kind of get
back home, and you know, there are a lot of
different things kind of you know, toy and at me.
So I went back and then was anchoring the show
(05:26):
that I was you know, interning on four years before that.
And then Josh and I met in the middle of
all that, and he got the job here. So after
we got married, I came up here, looked for some
TV work, met you and Toledo, and then I did
some stuff for Channel seven, like just this past year,
which I wish I could have done more, but there
(05:47):
were a lot of complications with that, but just in
my personal life that I couldn't do as much as
I wanted to. But um and then and then yeah,
so now we're here and I'm not really working in
TV anymore. So that's why this podcast was fun for
me to come in too. So I was like, yeah,
I get to be in production a little bit again.
But yeah, that's kind of the short version, I guess,
i'd say, of our road here. Yeah, but you spent
(06:08):
you did spend a lot of time in the sports
broadcast team world. You know, White loved it. What drew
you to that profession? First off? You know, I think
I do think growing up in Georgia, high school football's
huge and even though my high school wasn't by the
time I got there, we weren't very good anymore. But um,
I think that pomp and circumstance or that aura just
(06:30):
is part of the culture down there. And I, you know,
I loved it, and I always you know, I mean,
I played sports. I was always super into sports. I
feel like I was kind of a tomboy most of
my life, and you know, I just I loved it
and I wanted to be around it. And um so
in high school when I kind of started, um, you know,
video and the football practices and stuff like that, you know,
(06:54):
I was trying to think of what I want to
do and as a career, and my dad had kind
of he was like, you know, I think you'd be
I think you did pretty well, um, you know on
camera as a reporter. And I knew I didn't want
to do any like hard news stuff because that just
isn't news is just tough. You know. I'm like, I
want to be happy and I want like, I want
to be around like exciting stuff and fun stuff and
(07:15):
that's just what my like calls my heart. So, um, yeah,
I went, you know, studied journalism all through Georgia State,
and um, did you know, interviews and articles for our website,
and kind of just kept going from there, like wherever
the whatever opportunities opened up at that point. So, so,
were you just dressed in your high school like I
(07:36):
don't know, football sideline uniform, just going out there shooting videos.
I mean I think I was wearing like, yeah, like
workout clothes. I mean it's so hot down there. Oh yeah,
especially that timing year, it was just like I wasn't
even doing anything on camera. I'd say it was just
strictly yeah, like filming the practices and you know, I
(07:56):
mean it was really just for the coaches to watch.
I think, like, I don't think it was or anything
other than like them to get feedback on on the
practices and stuff. But at the time, I thought that
was like the greatest thing ever. I was like, oh,
I'm part of the part of the football team. You know,
this is cool. So um. So yeah, it feels like
so long ago now, but yeah, it was such a
fun time. I know, I know you have a sister
(08:16):
m who is watching the babies. Oh yeah, right now,
family member where they involved in sports? Was your dad
coaching football? No? Um? You know I have three sisters,
so we're it's a family four four girls. Um. You know.
I my mom was a gymnast growing up. My aunt
was a gymnast actually for the University of Georgia UM,
(08:37):
and she was pretty instrumental in like the title nine
UM when they were like threatening to get rid of
the gymnastics program um for I don't even remember why,
but I think it was something anyway, So like, my
family's always kind of had like a sporty side to it, UM,
And we would go to you know, we would go
to Georgia for watching gymnastics games, and my sister ended
up going to Georgia, so when she went there, Um,
(08:58):
I would go there on the weekends, and people alway
make fun of me because I technically I didn't go
to Georgia, but I always root for Georgia. Yeah, people
make fun of me for that, and I'm like, well,
I went on saturdays, you know, like and honestly, most yeah,
I'm like, I had a lot of friends from high
school who ended up going to Georgia, and so, um,
it wasn't hard for me, like on the weekends to
drive there from Georgia State and um, yeah, so we
(09:19):
you know, technically we weren't like the sportiest family in
the world, but like we were all pretty into it,
and um yeah, I mean like it's it's funny. I
always wish I went to Georgia, especially now that they
won the national championship. And I know that's a sore
subject for you guys. I'm sorry, honestly, like it's a blur.
I know because I didn't watch much after halftime, yeah,
because I think we had one field goal up on
(09:40):
the scoreboard and when that happened, I'm like, yeah, you points,
I know, I was it. I can't remember Eire and
I mean yeah, we were. I mean, our our biggest
test is always like, okay, well this is all good,
but like can anybody beat Alabama? You know, it is
always a thing. Anyways, that's a different day. I think
Georgia Obama any day. Yeah. Yeah, it's nice to have
some new they're just they feel more wholesome. Yeah, well
(10:01):
in an old time, it's yes, it's time. I think
it was time. Um so yeah, that's just kind of
like I think it's just where I'm from and what
influenced me at the time, and um yeah, I just
kind of held on to that. I guess I'm one
of three girls, one of four girls. Friend. Yeah, so
that's terrifying too. I feel like a lot of people
who have never been in that world. I have terrifying
(10:24):
stories of what my sisters and I used to do
to each other. Do you have any um, really great
sister stories. I mean I hate to say that I
was the crankster of the family. Um, you really should
be interviewed in my sisters since they probably have more
stories there they had. Yeah, um, I mean I like
I was the oldest, so I was kind of that
(10:45):
like motherly figure. Guys like older for sure. But um,
when we were younger, I mean I was, Yeah, I
was pulling out. I remember one prank I did was
my youngest sister, So that between me and then my
very youngest sister, there's ten years between us. So she,
you know whench whatever, she was four, I don't know,
I was fourteen, and so I put I think she
(11:05):
asked me to put like gatorade in her sippy cup,
and I put pickle juice in there, you know, and
I would enjoy that. Some people probably wouldn't dull if
you're not expecting, but I'm not drinking. Yeah, maybe that
was it mad, Like I would just do dumb things
like that, And you know, I got in trouble for
like I gave her. She so I just want to
(11:26):
catch up for her fries, and I gave her like
hot sauce and that was not good. I got in
trouble for that one. So, um, not proud of a
lot of stuff, but I yeah, I mean we were
kind of rough and tumble with each other, you know,
and it was it was funny though. Yeah it was
four sisters. I mean we were we were rough and tumble. Mean,
I think my parents would agree with that. So oh
(11:47):
my gosh. Okay, So I feel like that prepared you
for working in the sports yeadcasting industry kind of having
the lifestyle you have now. Um, I can't imagine taking
on a team report role in the NFL at twenty
three years old. Yeah, I was twenty five when I did,
and I think those two years really did help me. Yeah,
rust into local sports and then another a team reporter
(12:10):
job that I had in college football. It's still not
the NFL. So what do you think was the hardest
obstacle to overcomes a twenty three year old working in
the NFL back when you were doing it. I mean,
I feel like, and maybe I'm wrong on this, but
I do feel like when I started with the Patriots
at twenty three, I do think that was kind of
a newer thing where like I didn't even know to
(12:32):
look for jobs within like team you know, media, like
you know, I was trying to well, I did have
contact with the Falcons. I was trying, you know, to
get a job there, but that didn't work out. So
and you know, I think it was just kind of
new to me, like this, you know, the push towards
online content, you know, people were doing that more than
(12:52):
like watching local news or a TV really as much.
And I think the hardest thing is, I look back
on it now, was like Instagram was so big back then,
and I think that you know, that ended up being
kind of a like not a safe place for like
just because you get so caught up and like, you know,
(13:13):
this other world that like isn't really true, you know,
I mean, and like I did use it as like
a platform for you know, promoting things that I was
involved in, or promoting the team, and um, but I
think that like that all kind of was happening at
the same time. And then like you know, when I
got out of that role, I noticed I had like
(13:34):
so many people unfollow me and that like not like
I was, like, why do people like because I didn't
work for the patriots anymore. So I guess they just
didn't care, you know, I don't know. I mean, there
were Patriots from fans from all over, so but I think,
like just I wish I had been a little more
like protective of my myself, like in terms of like
(13:54):
social media and not really knowing what it was at
the time, and um, but I think it was you know,
it was all genuine and like just I would put
stuff up there about whatever, the games and you know,
interviews I was doing, and it was just all so new,
and now it's just crazy because I feel like I
get all of my information from like social media, you know.
So I think like not really realizing how big that
(14:17):
world was and just kind of how cool that is,
you know now looking back on it. At the time,
I was like, Okay, it's just like working for the
website cool, but like you know, we we took it.
I mean, it was a serious job. I mean, we
were like trying to put stuff on there because the
demand for the content was there all the time. And
so I mean it felt like I never worked at
a TV station until, like I hear, but like like
(14:38):
a news station. But it felt like, you know, it
felt like what I would imagine a twenty four hour
news station being. I mean, we were trying to turn
stuff out, put however much we could on the website
every single day, and you know, try to do as
much unique stuff as we could. And so I think,
you know, I think maybe that answers your question, hopefully.
(14:59):
It's just like not realizing how big the online world
was becoming, and that includes like you know Instagram and
Twitter and and all of that. So I tried to
match up where are you and husband Josh might have met? Yeah,
I couldn't match him up. It was a little difficult.
So U twisty road. So how did you get here
(15:19):
to the NFL wife life and and meet Josh? Who? Okay,
like I mentioned, Lyons had strength and conditioning coach. His
buddy is Moses, and Moses and Josh worked together at
Colorado and then not long after that, Moses got the
assistant strength conditioning coach job for the Patriots. He introduced
us one day when I was I was working for
the team, and I was like after a media availability,
(15:40):
and you know, he's like, oh, this's my buddy, Josh.
He's here helping out. And I was just like cool,
you know hey, and he like wherever he tried to,
you know, make conversation because he knew I was from
Georgia and he's like, oh, you know, I was a
GA at Auburn and I was like, I hate Abured.
I didn't say that, but I was just like, okay,
well I'm a Georgia fan. But it was it was
like kind of cute. Looking back on iually that doesn't
surprize me at all, because, um, Josh is very private
(16:03):
on social media. Yeah yeah, but his Instagram, I would
to say, what married to a Georgia Pee. So he's
very proud of your southern ruth and was trying to
find any way to connect. I know. It was very sweet,
and I mean, that's like all I remember from that interaction.
It was so quick and then I mean and then
Biden talk to him for a year after that, until
I had left the Patriots. I was back nothing. It
(16:25):
just didn't stick. Yeah, didn't stick. So, Um, I had
moved back to Atlanta was now anchoring UM the high
school football show that I had loved so much, and
so but I was really missing working in the NFL.
I really missed it and was having a hard time
wrestling with that decision. And um, so I once our
season was over, I flew back up to UM, New
(16:48):
England and just to see my friends and UM, you know,
I got to go to a game, and UM, when
I was there at the stadium for the game, Josh
was also there. He was helping out again because I
was always kind of ended up being that same time
of year, and so I was like, oh, like I was.
I was much more relaxed, I think because I wasn't working.
I was just there for fun. And I was like, oh, yeah,
(17:08):
we've met, that's right, and um, kind of just had
small talk. And then after that, um, you know, I
we exchanged numbers and started dating long distance, and I was, yeah,
we dated, you know, not not super long, but we
dated and then got married. And he had gotten in
the process of our dating, he had gotten the job
(17:30):
here and so once we were married, then I moved
up here and like I said, tried to find a job,
tried to keep working and sports and TV was super
hard to find anything. But I was trying to meet
with anybody and everybody I could and it wasn't working out.
And I was like, well, I've got it. I can't
just be sitting at home. I wanted, you know, like
I need to be doing something. And I was like,
(17:52):
well else, I passionate about, you know, fitness and you know,
working out. So I started working at a gym in
Plymouth as like the front desk person. I was literally
cleaning studio, cleaning the bathrooms, dealing with you know, just
customer service and trying to get people, you know, to
come through marketing and social media and stuff, and I
was like, cool, I'll just work out here for free
and clean the studio. I love it great. And then
(18:14):
I was like, you know, I really i'd like to
be a trainer, and you know, Josh kind of encouraged
because that's you know, obviously, yeah, something he's really good at.
And so he you know, encouraged me to get certified
and helped me while I was studying. And so I
got certified to be a personal trainer, and I mean
for three full years of being here, I did that
primarily like I was teaching bootcamp classes and in the
(18:36):
process of getting a Politius certification and just loved every
minute of it. And it was really cool to have
him to kind of like help support me through that
because he's obviously went to school for this and so
he knows a lot more than I do. And I
was able to learn a lot from him, and um,
you know, I'd teach classes and like put in a
new move or something and until my clients like, Okay,
this is courtesy of my husband. So if you hated yeah,
(18:58):
like if you hated that, don't blame me. Um, So
you know that that balance was hard and I think like,
you know, when we got married, every you know, we
had started making friends up here, and everybody was like
so enamored by you know, oh my gosh, he works
for a Lions and it was like so cool and
and it is is very cool. But if you know Josh,
he's like it's he doesn't he's not defined by what
(19:21):
he does. And that's something that we really you know,
like I really liked in him and um, and so
you know, aside from like our faith being the foundation
of our relationship and then you know, we're both passionate
about the same things football and exercise and so um,
you know, that's kind of how we our relationship started.
And now he's been here and um, it's it's been
(19:42):
really fun and he's, you know, like I said, taught
me a lot, and um, I've I love doing the
personal training thing. But it was hard for me in
the beginning because you know, everybody was so enamored with
his job, like the Lions, and I was kind of like,
well where does that leave me? You know, like I
kind of felt like I was just in the show
of his job, and and so I kind of was
(20:03):
like constantly looking for like my place here in this area.
And then um, you know, I did find you know
you and I worked Taylor and Toledo and then had
a very small stint with Channel seven and um, but
then we you know, started a family, and that took
a lot out of both of us, just because we
had to go through a lot to get our family.
And then when I got pregnant, I have I have
(20:26):
twins now they're five months, and so when I got pregnant,
there were a lot of complications and you know, so
it just now I am not working other than being
there for my kids and being home for them and
bringing them to camp as much as I can so
that he can see them, you know, because they're hours
are just they're crazy. But I will say, I mean,
(20:48):
like everything, like to coach Campbell's first season here, it
was a season I was pregnant and having a ton
of complications, and you know, I never for a second
worried like if Josh would be able to make it
to an appointment, and like he was able to be
at everything, and that, you know, I think that just
says so much to me about the coaching staff here
(21:09):
and like the ability that I didn't have to stress
or worry about, like, you know, things when they were
going crazy, and um, you know that was like just
really cool. So now you know, not doing any TV
anymore at the moment. But um, but yeah, that's kind
of a very long short story to where we are now. Yeah,
I know because I've been following on an Instagram of course. Yea,
(21:31):
so when you you posted your post of of your
IVF journey, I had no idea. I know most people
had no idea that that's what you're going through to yeah,
he's too precious, But I know it's Um, it's funny
because I'm not like I mean, I'm a pretty transparent person.
I feel like with friends and you know, people I
get to know, like I'm not afraid to go deep
when I meet people are right off the bat. But um,
(21:53):
it like on Instagram, I like to keep things very
lighthearted and fun and otherwise, like I said, it's just
kind of not a safe place. I just like to
keep things fun and but anyway, so I did feel
like I couldn't just all of a sudden posts that
I'm pregnant. I'm like, if I start, I'm never It's
not like I'm never gonna post again. I'm gonna be
pregnant and people are gonna see that. So I want
(22:13):
to like, I want to put it out there, you know,
to my five friends, but I'm like, I want to
put it out there, but I want people to know that, like,
you know, this has been a really hard three and
a half years, and like I had a hard time
getting on Instagram and seeing people who were pregnant and
these like you know, elaborate, you know, pregnancy announcements, which
is all fine, by the way, Like I'm not not
(22:34):
against anyone who wants to do that, but I feel
like my perspective was so different because we went through
IVF and we went through IUI several times, and you know,
we didn't know if it was over going to happen
for us, and so I wanted to be real because
I feel like Instagram's just it can be so fake,
you know, and it's like, you know, I feel like
you gotta have a little bit of realness to it,
(22:56):
and I have to remind myself to remember that, Like
I'm posting things and like, yeah, it's fun that we
get to go to training camp, but like the reality
is that the twins were screaming in the car the
whole way home and like, you know, the rest of
the day was a mess because they missed their nap.
And but so yeah, we we went through IVF here
had a phenomenal doctor and team, and like I said,
(23:19):
you know, like a nineteen I was nineteen weeks and
had They were extremely worried about pre term labor, and
so I had to have an emergency surgery done, and um,
it was very risky. I mean it thankfully worked, and
I you know, thankfully it worked and everybody's here and
it's fine. But at the time it was five months pregnant,
you had to have an emergency. Yeah, I think it's
(23:40):
something they do. It's a very routine thing and that
I have a lot of friends who've had it done
a lot earlier on in pregnancies. I think the fact
that I had two babies and I was already so
far along, any interference just was highly risky and so, um,
you know, once that happened, I was like, you know,
I was mentally not in a good spot. I was like, um,
(24:01):
you know, but that's why I said, Like, after that,
I was very monitored with our doctor's appointments, and Josh
never missed a thing, and that was huge to me
because it was obviously the middle of the season and
you know, it's not going well and then now this
was happening, and it was just it was a lot
for him to juggle and I was just so grateful
that I never had to worry like well as coach
Cambell gonna be okay with you coming like you know,
(24:21):
it was he was always like, go take care of
your family first and we'll see you when we can,
you know. So um so yeah, it was I mean,
like I want people to know like that stuff, you know,
it's not all it's roses and everything. So I did
put that on Instagram and thankfully I went super far
in my pregnancy and they were healthy and everything's going great.
(24:41):
And now I just feel like a totally different person.
You are, Yeah, that's true. Everything a lot has changed
in the last five months. But um yeah, just to like,
you know, feel that like burden gone, like lifted. And
I didn't even really realize it was there, but there
was so much diety and stress around that time, and
(25:02):
um so yeah, life changed really quickly stopped. You know.
I wasn't as worried about finding a job in sports
broadcasting anymore. As I was about, like, okay, we got
to get these babies here safely, and you know, how
are we going to do that? So um so yeah,
that's that's the story there. Oh my gosh. When I
mean when I come into the building, Josh's very large
(25:23):
truck is usually out there first, which is great. It's
great for two babies. Now it'll fit everyone. Yeah, and
a few friends get our giant dog too, exactly exactly. Yes,
you're a huge dog. Yeah, which is so cute, so
cute with the babies. But I mean, we keep talking
about a long hours Josh works, but he was able
to get away for some appointments. I mean, what what
does the week look like in the NFL while Josh
(25:45):
is here? And then yeah, you were alone for a
lot of it, right, yeah, I mean thankfully my you know,
my mom. You know, we don't have family around here,
so it's hard to have to get help. And um
my mom came up, and Josh's mom has come up
a lot too, and um you know right now during
training camp, he you know, he's gone. He leaves around
five am or something like that and then you know,
(26:07):
gets home and like definitely after I mean, I don't
even keep track anymore, but it's definitely after the babies
go to bed, so he doesn't see them at all,
you know, unless I bring them to training camp, which
is why I'm so adamant about, like we're going to
camp because I want him to see his kids. And
so it's yeah, it's it's hard. I mean, I feel like,
you know, and you'll understand this too because you work
(26:28):
in the NFL, but so many people don't realize how
tough the schedule is and like, you know, and it's
just tough on the players, but I'm like it's tough
on the coaches too. Man Like yeah, and I'm like,
he's like literally not home. And my friends will be like, well,
but they don't play on Saturdays, isn't he And I'm
like no, it's like a seven day a week thing,
you know. And I think like with me working for
(26:49):
the Patriots, I learned the schedule really quickly in the
off season two and everybody's like, oh, the offseason, he
just he's home all the time, right, And I'm like, no,
there's all kinds of stuff going on, and so um,
you know, I think that like that does help our partnership,
especially in marriage and now having children. It's like, I
can see how that would be very difficult, you know,
if he had married someone who you know didn't understand
(27:10):
the schedule, or if you know, if I had, you know,
like if I wasn't okay with his hours, and you know,
I could see how that would be you know, not
a good It wouldn't be good for for marriages. But
you and I both working in the NFL, like we
understand things and you know, it's not it's not like
shocking to me when he gets home at whatever time,
because I just I know what it is. Um So,
(27:32):
it's it's tough, but I feel like I'm just so
used to it now that you know, we make it work,
and we know Friday nights or tend to be a
little bit lighter, you know, for him here, and so
he usually gets home early and that's when we can
try to plan a little something that night. And um so,
it's it's just so part of our lives now that
you know, it's we've learned to we've learned how to
(27:53):
work with it, and it's it's been really good. I mean,
the last the last year definitely has been a lot better. Um,
just with you know, him being able to get home
and stuff like that. So yeah, wow, I love what
you posted, Josh. Um and you mentioned it he wakes
up before the babies are up. Yeah he does, which
(28:14):
is probably a good thing. The babies aren't waking him up. Yeah,
but that's that point. Yeah, thankfully, thank goodness. And then
but yeah, he gets home when the baby's already asleep.
So yeah, um you you shared a picture of him
praying over the babies. Yeah, which it is incredible. Yeah,
every um, every night, at least I think he used
to go in there in the mornings. I don't know
if he still does, but um, because there was one
(28:35):
point where they started waking up and you're yeah, and
he was like, okay, maybe all do that, but at
night they seem to be pretty knocked out, like they're
you know, exhausted. So um, yeah he goes in there
and he prays over him and you know that, like
that to me is exactly who he is. And yeah,
he's a strength coach and you know he's like he's
supposed to be like, you know strong, Yeah fur mans right,
(28:57):
yeah exactly. I know. It's so funny when I watched
him in that dynamic because I'm you know, I'm just
so used to seeing him at home where he's like,
you know, holding the babies, and you know, it's so
it's just it's very different, but that's exactly who he is.
I mean, he, yeah, comes home at late at night,
is in there, says a quick prayer over him, and
and then that's you know, that's just how it goes
for a couple of days, and then you know, we
get lucky and schedule changes and he gets home. We're
(29:19):
a little early, and it's to see him and that's
great too. But we just kind of got a roll
with whatever we get. Yeah, you know, so we're looking
forward to the off season. Yeah, there's the schedules a
little yeah, a little bit nice. Yeah, and that's why
it was nice. I mean, they were born in March,
so it was kind of a slower period and so
you know, he was home a lot, which was again fantastic,
and I'm just so grateful for that and that he
(29:41):
was able to be there. And you know, those were
some really crucial times too, so it was awesome to
have him there. But yeah, you just listen to another
episode of Off the Record with the Danny Rogers. A
new episode drops every Tuesday.
Today I'm featuring Jackie Schuler, one of the ogs for
team reporters in the NFL, after having been hired by
the New England Patriots at the age of twenty three. Detroit, though,
has been home for Jackie and husband Josh, the head
strength and conditioning coach for the Detroit lines since twenty sixteen.
Jackie talks her career in sports reporting along with her
Georgia roots, and she peels back the curtain on what
(00:22):
it's like being married into the NFL, the good and
the adversity that comes along with it, especially during the
Schuler's IVF journey that would result in their miracle babies.
Here is Jackie's story. I'm joined by Jackie Schuler, but
we have a ton of NFL fans that I assume
are tuning in, and the Patriot fans will know you
(00:42):
as Jackie Britton because once upon a time you were
the Patriots team reporter. Yeah, which is crazy to think.
How long ago was that. I know, my first year
was when I was twenty three, so that was ten
years ago. Just getting my age away, but that's fine.
So yeah, ten years ago was my first year with them,
and I was with them for three full seasons, so
twenty twelve through twenty fifteen technically, So yeah, it's a
(01:06):
good time. Another nugget about you is if people are
if you've heard the Shuler lastening before, it's because Josh
Chuhler is the head strength and condition coach here for
the Detroit Lions. Did you think ten years later after
the Patriots you would still be this immersed into the
NFL life. No, it's you know, our story is so crazy,
how I mean, if I was thought I was still
(01:27):
immersed in the NFL life, I thought I would be,
you know, still working as a reporter. But trying to
do that with someone who's a coach in the NFL
is just really hard because the hours, as you know,
are crazy, and so you know, it's really hard to
have both people working in the NFL. If you ever
want to see each other, it's you know, it's tough. So,
(01:48):
you know, when I moved up here after we got married,
you know, I looked for jobs in TV, and it's
obviously really hard to find a TV job, especially when
you're going to a specific market and you don't have
the flexibility to be like I'll go anywhere in the
count you know. Yeah, I know you're that doesn't happen. Yeah,
you know, I'm going here and I'm going to get
a job and try that doesn't happen, right, So, um,
it took a while to find a few things, and um,
(02:09):
you know, he's been blessed to be here as long
as This is his seventh season, so it's our third
head coach. Um, so we've been able to be here
as long as we have, and it's been a lot
of fun. It's kind of crazy how our world's connected,
including you right in my world and then now us
being together here. So yeah, throw back to twenty eighteen
when we first met ye in good old Toledo, Ohio.
(02:32):
Bcs Yes, so bcs N brought you in to host
their high school football show. Yes, and you're you were
used to hosting Georgia Football High School, um, which is
a beast. Ohio is Ohio is getting up there too? Yeah,
fun I had I felt like I had so much
to learn because I didn't know the landscape in Ohio.
So I was learning so much and like a short
(02:54):
amount of time. So I really leaned on you, and
you know, Mike and Mike and everybody else over there
was you too. So I was like, I always from here.
I never would have thought that. I was like, oh
my gosh, I'm so intimidated by all the stuff I
don't know, and everybody seemed like they knew everything, and um,
but yeah, I mean, I'm from Georgia, so I covered
high school football and Georgia, so obviously I knew the
(03:15):
landscape there. Was super comfortable with it and there. I mean,
I just I loved working for the Patriots. But there
is just something about high school football. I just love it.
And I don't know if it's like the purity of
the sport is still around and you know, the kids
and I remember covering like high school football championships at
the Georgia Dome, which is no longer there, rip, but um,
(03:37):
and just like the wide eyed nature of all the kids, like,
you know, to even make it to the state championships
and then you know, to know that that is the
end of a lot of these careers for a lot
of these guys. And so I really loved it, and
you know, so I was excited when the Toledo job
came up. I'd been up here for a year trying
to find something and did one season with you guys,
and man, it was a lot to keep up with.
(04:00):
It was it was fun. I mean, you know, it
was fun to get back into that world. So I
just there's something about that that I just I'll always
have a soft spot for the high school football. I
feel like it helps being raised born and raised in Georgia.
You're gonna have to help me out with where you're from.
I do. I am not, that's okay from Yeah, so
I'm from mcdonna, which, okay, thirty minutes south of Atlanta,
(04:22):
just to give a little context. And I feel like
a lot of people are like, oh, yeah, I'm from
Atlanta and that they're like from the north side, which
is all fine, we do that here with Detroit as well.
Yeah I'm like, oh, man, no whatever knows the south
side that's okay, Um, but it Yeah, so that's where
I'm from. And then, um, you know, I went to
college at Georgia State, and I started like video videoing
football practices in high school. Like we had a broadcasting
(04:44):
class and they're like, sure, you know, we need we
need some help, you know with tape in our games
or practices if you want to do that. So so
the actual football you were doing that for the football team.
Not yeah high school, okay, right, yeah, in high school
just to like you know, get some reps and stuff.
And then you know, college, I got more in rep
and then that's where I was able to intern at GPB.
When I was done with college, I interned there for
(05:05):
a year, had enough material to put a reel together.
Then I got the job with the Patriots from there
and was there for three years, and then actually ended
up going back to GPB because there was an anchor
position available and I was ready to kind of get
back home, and you know, there are a lot of
different things kind of you know, toy and at me.
So I went back and then was anchoring the show
(05:26):
that I was you know, interning on four years before that.
And then Josh and I met in the middle of
all that, and he got the job here. So after
we got married, I came up here, looked for some
TV work, met you and Toledo, and then I did
some stuff for Channel seven, like just this past year,
which I wish I could have done more, but there
(05:47):
were a lot of complications with that, but just in
my personal life that I couldn't do as much as
I wanted to. But um and then and then yeah,
so now we're here and I'm not really working in
TV anymore. So that's why this podcast was fun for
me to come in too. So I was like, yeah,
I get to be in production a little bit again.
But yeah, that's kind of the short version, I guess,
i'd say, of our road here. Yeah, but you spent
(06:08):
you did spend a lot of time in the sports
broadcast team world. You know, White loved it. What drew
you to that profession? First off? You know, I think
I do think growing up in Georgia, high school football's
huge and even though my high school wasn't by the
time I got there, we weren't very good anymore. But um,
I think that pomp and circumstance or that aura just
(06:30):
is part of the culture down there. And I, you know,
I loved it, and I always you know, I mean,
I played sports. I was always super into sports. I
feel like I was kind of a tomboy most of
my life, and you know, I just I loved it
and I wanted to be around it. And um so
in high school when I kind of started, um, you know,
video and the football practices and stuff like that, you know,
(06:54):
I was trying to think of what I want to
do and as a career, and my dad had kind
of he was like, you know, I think you'd be
I think you did pretty well, um, you know on
camera as a reporter. And I knew I didn't want
to do any like hard news stuff because that just
isn't news is just tough. You know. I'm like, I
want to be happy and I want like, I want
to be around like exciting stuff and fun stuff and
(07:15):
that's just what my like calls my heart. So, um, yeah,
I went, you know, studied journalism all through Georgia State,
and um, did you know, interviews and articles for our website,
and kind of just kept going from there, like wherever
the whatever opportunities opened up at that point. So, so,
were you just dressed in your high school like I
(07:36):
don't know, football sideline uniform, just going out there shooting videos.
I mean I think I was wearing like, yeah, like
workout clothes. I mean it's so hot down there. Oh yeah,
especially that timing year, it was just like I wasn't
even doing anything on camera. I'd say it was just
strictly yeah, like filming the practices and you know, I
(07:56):
mean it was really just for the coaches to watch.
I think, like, I don't think it was or anything
other than like them to get feedback on on the
practices and stuff. But at the time, I thought that
was like the greatest thing ever. I was like, oh,
I'm part of the part of the football team. You know,
this is cool. So um. So yeah, it feels like
so long ago now, but yeah, it was such a
fun time. I know, I know you have a sister
(08:16):
m who is watching the babies. Oh yeah, right now,
family member where they involved in sports? Was your dad
coaching football? No? Um? You know I have three sisters,
so we're it's a family four four girls. Um. You know.
I my mom was a gymnast growing up. My aunt
was a gymnast actually for the University of Georgia UM,
(08:37):
and she was pretty instrumental in like the title nine
UM when they were like threatening to get rid of
the gymnastics program um for I don't even remember why,
but I think it was something anyway, So like, my
family's always kind of had like a sporty side to it, UM,
And we would go to you know, we would go
to Georgia for watching gymnastics games, and my sister ended
up going to Georgia, so when she went there, Um,
(08:58):
I would go there on the weekends, and people alway
make fun of me because I technically I didn't go
to Georgia, but I always root for Georgia. Yeah, people
make fun of me for that, and I'm like, well,
I went on saturdays, you know, like and honestly, most yeah,
I'm like, I had a lot of friends from high
school who ended up going to Georgia, and so, um,
it wasn't hard for me, like on the weekends to
drive there from Georgia State and um, yeah, so we
(09:19):
you know, technically we weren't like the sportiest family in
the world, but like we were all pretty into it,
and um yeah, I mean like it's it's funny. I
always wish I went to Georgia, especially now that they
won the national championship. And I know that's a sore
subject for you guys. I'm sorry, honestly, like it's a blur.
I know because I didn't watch much after halftime, yeah,
because I think we had one field goal up on
(09:40):
the scoreboard and when that happened, I'm like, yeah, you points,
I know, I was it. I can't remember Eire and
I mean yeah, we were. I mean, our our biggest
test is always like, okay, well this is all good,
but like can anybody beat Alabama? You know, it is
always a thing. Anyways, that's a different day. I think
Georgia Obama any day. Yeah. Yeah, it's nice to have
some new they're just they feel more wholesome. Yeah, well
(10:01):
in an old time, it's yes, it's time. I think
it was time. Um so yeah, that's just kind of
like I think it's just where I'm from and what
influenced me at the time, and um yeah, I just
kind of held on to that. I guess I'm one
of three girls, one of four girls. Friend. Yeah, so
that's terrifying too. I feel like a lot of people
who have never been in that world. I have terrifying
(10:24):
stories of what my sisters and I used to do
to each other. Do you have any um, really great
sister stories. I mean I hate to say that I
was the crankster of the family. Um, you really should
be interviewed in my sisters since they probably have more
stories there they had. Yeah, um, I mean I like
I was the oldest, so I was kind of that
(10:45):
like motherly figure. Guys like older for sure. But um,
when we were younger, I mean I was, Yeah, I
was pulling out. I remember one prank I did was
my youngest sister, So that between me and then my
very youngest sister, there's ten years between us. So she,
you know whench whatever, she was four, I don't know,
I was fourteen, and so I put I think she
(11:05):
asked me to put like gatorade in her sippy cup,
and I put pickle juice in there, you know, and
I would enjoy that. Some people probably wouldn't dull if
you're not expecting, but I'm not drinking. Yeah, maybe that
was it mad, Like I would just do dumb things
like that, And you know, I got in trouble for
like I gave her. She so I just want to
(11:26):
catch up for her fries, and I gave her like
hot sauce and that was not good. I got in
trouble for that one. So, um, not proud of a
lot of stuff, but I yeah, I mean we were
kind of rough and tumble with each other, you know,
and it was it was funny though. Yeah it was
four sisters. I mean we were we were rough and tumble. Mean,
I think my parents would agree with that. So oh
(11:47):
my gosh. Okay, So I feel like that prepared you
for working in the sports yeadcasting industry kind of having
the lifestyle you have now. Um, I can't imagine taking
on a team report role in the NFL at twenty
three years old. Yeah, I was twenty five when I did,
and I think those two years really did help me. Yeah,
rust into local sports and then another a team reporter
(12:10):
job that I had in college football. It's still not
the NFL. So what do you think was the hardest
obstacle to overcomes a twenty three year old working in
the NFL back when you were doing it. I mean,
I feel like, and maybe I'm wrong on this, but
I do feel like when I started with the Patriots
at twenty three, I do think that was kind of
a newer thing where like I didn't even know to
(12:32):
look for jobs within like team you know, media, like
you know, I was trying to well, I did have
contact with the Falcons. I was trying, you know, to
get a job there, but that didn't work out. So
and you know, I think it was just kind of
new to me, like this, you know, the push towards
online content, you know, people were doing that more than
(12:52):
like watching local news or a TV really as much.
And I think the hardest thing is, I look back
on it now, was like Instagram was so big back then,
and I think that you know, that ended up being
kind of a like not a safe place for like
just because you get so caught up and like, you know,
(13:13):
this other world that like isn't really true, you know,
I mean, and like I did use it as like
a platform for you know, promoting things that I was
involved in, or promoting the team, and um, but I
think that like that all kind of was happening at
the same time. And then like you know, when I
got out of that role, I noticed I had like
(13:34):
so many people unfollow me and that like not like
I was, like, why do people like because I didn't
work for the patriots anymore. So I guess they just
didn't care, you know, I don't know. I mean, there
were Patriots from fans from all over, so but I think,
like just I wish I had been a little more
like protective of my myself, like in terms of like
(13:54):
social media and not really knowing what it was at
the time, and um, but I think it was you know,
it was all genuine and like just I would put
stuff up there about whatever, the games and you know,
interviews I was doing, and it was just all so new,
and now it's just crazy because I feel like I
get all of my information from like social media, you know.
So I think like not really realizing how big that
(14:17):
world was and just kind of how cool that is,
you know now looking back on it. At the time,
I was like, Okay, it's just like working for the
website cool, but like you know, we we took it.
I mean, it was a serious job. I mean, we
were like trying to put stuff on there because the
demand for the content was there all the time. And
so I mean it felt like I never worked at
a TV station until, like I hear, but like like
(14:38):
a news station. But it felt like, you know, it
felt like what I would imagine a twenty four hour
news station being. I mean, we were trying to turn
stuff out, put however much we could on the website
every single day, and you know, try to do as
much unique stuff as we could. And so I think,
you know, I think maybe that answers your question, hopefully.
(14:59):
It's just like not realizing how big the online world
was becoming, and that includes like you know Instagram and
Twitter and and all of that. So I tried to
match up where are you and husband Josh might have met? Yeah,
I couldn't match him up. It was a little difficult.
So U twisty road. So how did you get here
(15:19):
to the NFL wife life and and meet Josh? Who? Okay,
like I mentioned, Lyons had strength and conditioning coach. His
buddy is Moses, and Moses and Josh worked together at
Colorado and then not long after that, Moses got the
assistant strength conditioning coach job for the Patriots. He introduced
us one day when I was I was working for
the team, and I was like after a media availability,
(15:40):
and you know, he's like, oh, this's my buddy, Josh.
He's here helping out. And I was just like cool,
you know hey, and he like wherever he tried to,
you know, make conversation because he knew I was from
Georgia and he's like, oh, you know, I was a
GA at Auburn and I was like, I hate Abured.
I didn't say that, but I was just like, okay,
well I'm a Georgia fan. But it was it was
like kind of cute. Looking back on iually that doesn't
surprize me at all, because, um, Josh is very private
(16:03):
on social media. Yeah yeah, but his Instagram, I would
to say, what married to a Georgia Pee. So he's
very proud of your southern ruth and was trying to
find any way to connect. I know. It was very sweet,
and I mean, that's like all I remember from that interaction.
It was so quick and then I mean and then
Biden talk to him for a year after that, until
I had left the Patriots. I was back nothing. It
(16:25):
just didn't stick. Yeah, didn't stick. So, Um, I had
moved back to Atlanta was now anchoring UM the high
school football show that I had loved so much, and
so but I was really missing working in the NFL.
I really missed it and was having a hard time
wrestling with that decision. And um, so I once our
season was over, I flew back up to UM, New
(16:48):
England and just to see my friends and UM, you know,
I got to go to a game, and UM, when
I was there at the stadium for the game, Josh
was also there. He was helping out again because I
was always kind of ended up being that same time
of year, and so I was like, oh, like I was.
I was much more relaxed, I think because I wasn't working.
I was just there for fun. And I was like, oh, yeah,
(17:08):
we've met, that's right, and um, kind of just had
small talk. And then after that, um, you know, I
we exchanged numbers and started dating long distance, and I was, yeah,
we dated, you know, not not super long, but we
dated and then got married. And he had gotten in
the process of our dating, he had gotten the job
(17:30):
here and so once we were married, then I moved
up here and like I said, tried to find a job,
tried to keep working and sports and TV was super
hard to find anything. But I was trying to meet
with anybody and everybody I could and it wasn't working out.
And I was like, well, I've got it. I can't
just be sitting at home. I wanted, you know, like
I need to be doing something. And I was like,
(17:52):
well else, I passionate about, you know, fitness and you know,
working out. So I started working at a gym in
Plymouth as like the front desk person. I was literally
cleaning studio, cleaning the bathrooms, dealing with you know, just
customer service and trying to get people, you know, to
come through marketing and social media and stuff, and I
was like, cool, I'll just work out here for free
and clean the studio. I love it great. And then
(18:14):
I was like, you know, I really i'd like to
be a trainer, and you know, Josh kind of encouraged
because that's you know, obviously, yeah, something he's really good at.
And so he you know, encouraged me to get certified
and helped me while I was studying. And so I
got certified to be a personal trainer, and I mean
for three full years of being here, I did that
primarily like I was teaching bootcamp classes and in the
(18:36):
process of getting a Politius certification and just loved every
minute of it. And it was really cool to have
him to kind of like help support me through that
because he's obviously went to school for this and so
he knows a lot more than I do. And I
was able to learn a lot from him, and um,
you know, I'd teach classes and like put in a
new move or something and until my clients like, Okay,
this is courtesy of my husband. So if you hated yeah,
(18:58):
like if you hated that, don't blame me. Um, So
you know that that balance was hard and I think like,
you know, when we got married, every you know, we
had started making friends up here, and everybody was like
so enamored by you know, oh my gosh, he works
for a Lions and it was like so cool and
and it is is very cool. But if you know Josh,
he's like it's he doesn't he's not defined by what
(19:21):
he does. And that's something that we really you know,
like I really liked in him and um, and so
you know, aside from like our faith being the foundation
of our relationship and then you know, we're both passionate
about the same things football and exercise and so um,
you know, that's kind of how we our relationship started.
And now he's been here and um, it's it's been
(19:42):
really fun and he's, you know, like I said, taught
me a lot, and um, I've I love doing the
personal training thing. But it was hard for me in
the beginning because you know, everybody was so enamored with
his job, like the Lions, and I was kind of like,
well where does that leave me? You know, like I
kind of felt like I was just in the show
of his job, and and so I kind of was
(20:03):
like constantly looking for like my place here in this area.
And then um, you know, I did find you know
you and I worked Taylor and Toledo and then had
a very small stint with Channel seven and um, but
then we you know, started a family, and that took
a lot out of both of us, just because we
had to go through a lot to get our family.
And then when I got pregnant, I have I have
(20:26):
twins now they're five months, and so when I got pregnant,
there were a lot of complications and you know, so
it just now I am not working other than being
there for my kids and being home for them and
bringing them to camp as much as I can so
that he can see them, you know, because they're hours
are just they're crazy. But I will say, I mean,
(20:48):
like everything, like to coach Campbell's first season here, it
was a season I was pregnant and having a ton
of complications, and you know, I never for a second
worried like if Josh would be able to make it
to an appointment, and like he was able to be
at everything, and that, you know, I think that just
says so much to me about the coaching staff here
(21:09):
and like the ability that I didn't have to stress
or worry about, like, you know, things when they were
going crazy, and um, you know that was like just
really cool. So now you know, not doing any TV
anymore at the moment. But um, but yeah, that's kind
of a very long short story to where we are now. Yeah,
I know because I've been following on an Instagram of course. Yea,
(21:31):
so when you you posted your post of of your
IVF journey, I had no idea. I know most people
had no idea that that's what you're going through to yeah,
he's too precious, But I know it's Um, it's funny
because I'm not like I mean, I'm a pretty transparent person.
I feel like with friends and you know, people I
get to know, like I'm not afraid to go deep
when I meet people are right off the bat. But um,
(21:53):
it like on Instagram, I like to keep things very
lighthearted and fun and otherwise, like I said, it's just
kind of not a safe place. I just like to
keep things fun and but anyway, so I did feel
like I couldn't just all of a sudden posts that
I'm pregnant. I'm like, if I start, I'm never It's
not like I'm never gonna post again. I'm gonna be
pregnant and people are gonna see that. So I want
(22:13):
to like, I want to put it out there, you know,
to my five friends, but I'm like, I want to
put it out there, but I want people to know that, like,
you know, this has been a really hard three and
a half years, and like I had a hard time
getting on Instagram and seeing people who were pregnant and
these like you know, elaborate, you know, pregnancy announcements, which
is all fine, by the way, Like I'm not not
(22:34):
against anyone who wants to do that, but I feel
like my perspective was so different because we went through
IVF and we went through IUI several times, and you know,
we didn't know if it was over going to happen
for us, and so I wanted to be real because
I feel like Instagram's just it can be so fake,
you know, and it's like, you know, I feel like
you gotta have a little bit of realness to it,
(22:56):
and I have to remind myself to remember that, Like
I'm posting things and like, yeah, it's fun that we
get to go to training camp, but like the reality
is that the twins were screaming in the car the
whole way home and like, you know, the rest of
the day was a mess because they missed their nap.
And but so yeah, we we went through IVF here
had a phenomenal doctor and team, and like I said,
(23:19):
you know, like a nineteen I was nineteen weeks and
had They were extremely worried about pre term labor, and
so I had to have an emergency surgery done, and um,
it was very risky. I mean it thankfully worked, and
I you know, thankfully it worked and everybody's here and
it's fine. But at the time it was five months pregnant,
you had to have an emergency. Yeah, I think it's
(23:40):
something they do. It's a very routine thing and that
I have a lot of friends who've had it done
a lot earlier on in pregnancies. I think the fact
that I had two babies and I was already so
far along, any interference just was highly risky and so, um,
you know, once that happened, I was like, you know,
I was mentally not in a good spot. I was like, um,
(24:01):
you know, but that's why I said, Like, after that,
I was very monitored with our doctor's appointments, and Josh
never missed a thing, and that was huge to me
because it was obviously the middle of the season and
you know, it's not going well and then now this
was happening, and it was just it was a lot
for him to juggle and I was just so grateful
that I never had to worry like well as coach
Cambell gonna be okay with you coming like you know,
(24:21):
it was he was always like, go take care of
your family first and we'll see you when we can,
you know. So um so yeah, it was I mean,
like I want people to know like that stuff, you know,
it's not all it's roses and everything. So I did
put that on Instagram and thankfully I went super far
in my pregnancy and they were healthy and everything's going great.
(24:41):
And now I just feel like a totally different person.
You are, Yeah, that's true. Everything a lot has changed
in the last five months. But um yeah, just to like,
you know, feel that like burden gone, like lifted. And
I didn't even really realize it was there, but there
was so much diety and stress around that time, and
(25:02):
um so yeah, life changed really quickly stopped. You know.
I wasn't as worried about finding a job in sports
broadcasting anymore. As I was about, like, okay, we got
to get these babies here safely, and you know, how
are we going to do that? So um so yeah,
that's that's the story there. Oh my gosh. When I
mean when I come into the building, Josh's very large
(25:23):
truck is usually out there first, which is great. It's
great for two babies. Now it'll fit everyone. Yeah, and
a few friends get our giant dog too, exactly exactly. Yes,
you're a huge dog. Yeah, which is so cute, so
cute with the babies. But I mean, we keep talking
about a long hours Josh works, but he was able
to get away for some appointments. I mean, what what
does the week look like in the NFL while Josh
(25:45):
is here? And then yeah, you were alone for a
lot of it, right, yeah, I mean thankfully my you know,
my mom. You know, we don't have family around here,
so it's hard to have to get help. And um
my mom came up, and Josh's mom has come up
a lot too, and um you know right now during
training camp, he you know, he's gone. He leaves around
five am or something like that and then you know,
(26:07):
gets home and like definitely after I mean, I don't
even keep track anymore, but it's definitely after the babies
go to bed, so he doesn't see them at all,
you know, unless I bring them to training camp, which
is why I'm so adamant about, like we're going to
camp because I want him to see his kids. And
so it's yeah, it's it's hard. I mean, I feel like,
you know, and you'll understand this too because you work
(26:28):
in the NFL, but so many people don't realize how
tough the schedule is and like, you know, and it's
just tough on the players, but I'm like it's tough
on the coaches too. Man Like yeah, and I'm like,
he's like literally not home. And my friends will be like, well,
but they don't play on Saturdays, isn't he And I'm
like no, it's like a seven day a week thing,
you know. And I think like with me working for
(26:49):
the Patriots, I learned the schedule really quickly in the
off season two and everybody's like, oh, the offseason, he
just he's home all the time, right, And I'm like, no,
there's all kinds of stuff going on, and so um,
you know, I think that like that does help our partnership,
especially in marriage and now having children. It's like, I
can see how that would be very difficult, you know,
if he had married someone who you know didn't understand
(27:10):
the schedule, or if you know, if I had, you know,
like if I wasn't okay with his hours, and you know,
I could see how that would be you know, not
a good It wouldn't be good for for marriages. But
you and I both working in the NFL, like we
understand things and you know, it's not it's not like
shocking to me when he gets home at whatever time,
because I just I know what it is. Um So,
(27:32):
it's it's tough, but I feel like I'm just so
used to it now that you know, we make it work,
and we know Friday nights or tend to be a
little bit lighter, you know, for him here, and so
he usually gets home early and that's when we can
try to plan a little something that night. And um so,
it's it's just so part of our lives now that
you know, it's we've learned to we've learned how to
(27:53):
work with it, and it's it's been really good. I mean,
the last the last year definitely has been a lot better. Um,
just with you know, him being able to get home
and stuff like that. So yeah, wow, I love what
you posted, Josh. Um and you mentioned it he wakes
up before the babies are up. Yeah he does, which
(28:14):
is probably a good thing. The babies aren't waking him up. Yeah,
but that's that point. Yeah, thankfully, thank goodness. And then
but yeah, he gets home when the baby's already asleep.
So yeah, um you you shared a picture of him
praying over the babies. Yeah, which it is incredible. Yeah,
every um, every night, at least I think he used
to go in there in the mornings. I don't know
if he still does, but um, because there was one
(28:35):
point where they started waking up and you're yeah, and
he was like, okay, maybe all do that, but at
night they seem to be pretty knocked out, like they're
you know, exhausted. So um, yeah he goes in there
and he prays over him and you know that, like
that to me is exactly who he is. And yeah,
he's a strength coach and you know he's like he's
supposed to be like, you know strong, Yeah fur mans right,
(28:57):
yeah exactly. I know. It's so funny when I watched
him in that dynamic because I'm you know, I'm just
so used to seeing him at home where he's like,
you know, holding the babies, and you know, it's so
it's just it's very different, but that's exactly who he is.
I mean, he, yeah, comes home at late at night,
is in there, says a quick prayer over him, and
and then that's you know, that's just how it goes
for a couple of days, and then you know, we
get lucky and schedule changes and he gets home. We're
(29:19):
a little early, and it's to see him and that's
great too. But we just kind of got a roll
with whatever we get. Yeah, you know, so we're looking
forward to the off season. Yeah, there's the schedules a
little yeah, a little bit nice. Yeah, and that's why
it was nice. I mean, they were born in March,
so it was kind of a slower period and so
you know, he was home a lot, which was again fantastic,
and I'm just so grateful for that and that he
(29:41):
was able to be there. And you know, those were
some really crucial times too, so it was awesome to
have him there. But yeah, you just listen to another
episode of Off the Record with the Danny Rogers. A
new episode drops every Tuesday.
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