New Beginnings: From NFL to Bend, Fried Chicken, and a Pandemic

Welcome to the very first episode of The Art of Hustle! We’re kicking things off by sharing the story of how we went from the NFL to starting fresh in Bend, Oregon. It all started five years ago on Thanksgiving Day, when we arrived in Bend ready for a new adventure and moved into a tiny Airbnb. That first Christmas, we celebrated with fried chicken and a lot of questions about what was next.Then came the rollercoaster of early 2020—navigating life in a new town, figuring out who we were outside of football, and stepping into business ownership just as COVID turned everything upside down. And in the middle of quarantine, we found out we were pregnant, adding a whole new layer to an already crazy year.This is the story of big transitions, unexpected challenges, and the moments that kept us grounded. Let’s dive in!