Mike Vrabel is a Super Bowl–winning former NFL linebacker and current head coach best known for his championship years with the New England Patriots and his blunt, no-nonsense personality. Here’s what you need to know.
Mike Vrabel Steps Away From Patriots to Focus on Family
Update April 23, 2026:
Vrabel is stepping away from the team indefinitely amid the backlash over his “relationship” with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel will miss part of the 2026 NFL Draft, including the final day on Saturday, as he focuses on his family and begins counseling. The Patriots hold eight picks during rounds 4 through 7, which take place that day.
In a statement released to ESPN, Vrabel addressed the decision directly.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” he said.
“In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
Vrabel continued, “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Mike Vrabel Once Made a Shocking Super Bowl Joke
Vrabel made headlines in 2019 during an appearance on the podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys” when he responded to a hypothetical question about what he would sacrifice to win a Super Bowl as a coach.
When asked if he would cut off his (expletive) for a championship, Vrabel replied, “Been married 20 years. Yeah, probably.”
After being reminded that he already owned three Super Bowl rings as a player, Vrabel joked, “As a player…. You guys will be married for 20 years one day. You won’t need it.”
When pressed further about how his wife would react, Vrabel doubled down, saying, “She’d be like do you want me to do it? Do you want to do it now?
The New England Patriots Head Coach Met His Wife, Jen, at Ohio State
Vrabel met his wife, Jen Vrabel, while they were both students at Ohio State University.
According to The Tennessean, Jen noticed Mike in a freshman lecture class and eventually asked their professor for his phone number.
“He sat at the front of the classroom and always talked,” she recalled in a 2018 interview. “I found him funny enough to ask the professor for his phone number.”
They quickly became inseparable, even after Mike was drafted into the NFL.
Mike Vrabel’s Wife Was a Standout College Athlete
Like her husband, Jen was a college athlete. She played volleyball at Ohio State from 1993 to 1996 and earned multiple honors, including two-time All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
She graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, while
Mike later returned to Ohio State to complete his degree in exercise science in 2004.
“Ohio State has had a great impact on the lives of my wife and me,”
Vrabel said in 2006.
The Super Bowl Champion Credits His Wife for His Coaching Career
After retiring as a player in 2011, Vrabel transitioned into coaching, first at Ohio State and later in the NFL. He has repeatedly credited Jen for pushing him toward the next phase of his career.
“She challenged me to get into the NFL after spending some time at Ohio State,” Vrabel said.
When he was introduced as head coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2018,
Vrabel publicly thanked his wife, saying, “I love her to death. She’s been through a lot, and she understands this league.”
He echoed that sentiment again in 2025 after returning to the New England Patriots as head coach.
Mike Vrabel’s Family Includes Two Athletic Sons
Mike and Jen are parents to two sons, Tyler Vrabel and Carter Vrabel. Tyler played offensive tackle at Boston College and later joined the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in 2022.
Carter pursued baseball, committing to Wabash Valley College before later playing at Volunteer State Community College and Tennessee Tech.
Vrabel admitted he missed Carter’s birth while playing for the Patriots during the 2001 season.
“I’m not proud to say this,” Vrabel said in a 2018 press conference. “She gave birth to Carter, I missed it. I was at practice, she was in Ohio.”
“They’ve been around the NFL locker room since they’ve been born,” he added.
Mike Vrabel’s Family & Kids: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know