New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has publicly expressed his love for his wife, Jennifer, and their children amid a scandal involving former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Vrabel said, 'My family is great. I love Jen, I love the boys.'
The scandal erupted in March when photos emerged of Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging at a luxury resort in Arizona. Russini, who is married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, resigned from her position at The Athletic following the leak. Additional images, including one appearing to show them kissing in New York City in March 2020 and another of them on a boat in Tennessee in 2021, have since surfaced.
Last month, Vrabel issued an apology for his behaviour without addressing the nature of his relationship with Russini, and announced he would seek counselling. He missed part of the NFL draft in April to begin treatment. When asked on Wednesday if he would step away from the team again, he responded, 'Who knows what’s going to come up? Anything can happen. I’m going to focus on today.'
Vrabel declined to comment on how players have responded to his leadership, stating he did not want to speak for them. He instead emphasised his focus on providing them with information to succeed. The coach and his wife have two sons: Tyler, an offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, and Carter. Russini shares two sons with Goldschmidt.
