Mike Vrabel publicly praised his wife during a recent press conference weeks after photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini raised questions about the nature of their relationship
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the New England Patriots head coach was asked about balancing football with family life following an offseason filled with headlines surrounding his personal life.
Vrabel admitted it’s an area he still wants to improve, but made sure to emphasize his appreciation for his family.
“I think things are going really good,” Vrabel said. “I appreciate my family. I love Jen. I love the boys. I love my personal friends.”
The comments marked one of Vrabel’s clearest public statements about his marriage since photos and videos of himself and Russini sparked widespread online discussion earlier this offseason.
The controversy intensified after footage surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini appearing unusually close during a boat outing. Russini eventually stepped down from her job as a reporter at the Athletic.
Despite the speculation, both Vrabel and Russini have seemingly continued forward publicly with their respective families.
Russini was recently photographed spending time with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, during Mother’s Day weekend, and was later spotted alongside him again during a night out in New York City.
Vrabel, meanwhile, reportedly stepped away from portions of the NFL Draft process earlier this spring to focus on personal matters and counseling before later returning to team activities.
During Wednesday’s media session, however, Vrabel largely redirected the conversation back toward football and the Patriots’ offseason progress after briefly addressing his family life.
The Super Bowl-winning former linebacker was hired by New England earlier this year as the franchise attempts to begin a new era following years of transition after the departure of Bill Belichick.
