Inside NFL Coach Mike Vrabel’s Family: Discover His Wife and Sons
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel considers himself a devoted family man.
“My family is fantastic,” Mike expressed during a press conference in May 2026. “I love Jen [Vrabel], I love the boys,”
Mike and Jen, who have been married since 1999, are proud parents of two sons. However, their marriage faced scrutiny in 2026 when the NFL coach was seen with sports journalist Dianna Russini multiple times, despite both being married.
Both Mike and Russini have consistently denied the rumors surrounding their relationship.
Putting the drama behind him, Mike is focused on his family and the upcoming Patriots season.
“This spring is all about the coaching staff and the players — the coaching staff being second to the players,” he indicated to reporters in May 2026. “‘Hey, we love this play. How can we enhance it?’ And then the coaches go out and find ways to make it better.”
Continue reading to learn about Mike’s family beyond the football field:
Jen Vrabel
Mike and Jen first crossed paths as college students at The Ohio State University. In an interview with The Tennessean in 2018, Jen recalled first noticing Mike in their freshman time management class. After requesting his phone number from their professor, the two quickly became inseparable.
The couple tied the knot in 1999 while Mike was still playing professional football. At that time, Jen worked as a dental hygienist.
“I was like, ‘Wait, the Patriots are picking you and you’re going to start for them?’” Jen reminisced, recalling Mike’s draft day. “’I’m so confused. This is amazing, but really?’”
Tyler Vrabel
Their first son, Tyler, was born in 2000. Following in his father’s footsteps, Tyler played college football before being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. He retired in 2024 after just one week in training camp.
In his personal life, Tyler proposed to his girlfriend Mariah Romano in June 2026.
“The most perfect engagement surrounded by the people I love the most,” Romano shared on Instagram during her engagement party, which Mike and Jen attended.
Carter Vrabel
The Vrabel family grew with the arrival of their second son, Carter, in 2001.
“Let me tell you about my wife. She gave birth to Carter while I was at practice, and she was in Ohio,” Mike shared in a 2018 press conference. “He came early, and they had to take her for surgery. I was on the field, and she was welcoming our child. I love her dearly. She has endured much and truly understands this league.”
Like his father and brother, Carter also played football throughout high school and college.
“You can’t help but love what your family loves. There are a lot of baseball games. Carter enjoys baseball, and when there’s a game, I’m out the door,” Mike explained to ESPN in 2019 about balancing work and family. “I remind our staff that we work too much in-season for any player to miss important family events in the offseason. It’s unhealthy for them and their families. They won’t be productive if they’re preoccupied with thoughts like, ‘I wish I were at that game.’ If their child has an event, I want them there.”
