Jen Vrabel is a former Ohio State volleyball player and the wife of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Known in college as Jen Boleyn, she earned All-Big Ten honors, graduated with a dental hygiene degree in 1998, and married Mike in 1999. They have two sons, Tyler and Carter.
In this article, you’ll learn about her own athletic achievements, the college class that brought the couple together, their life through years of NFL football, and the family moments that have drawn attention in 2026.
Her Volleyball Career at Ohio State
Before Jen Vrabel became known to Patriots and Titans fans, she had made her mark in college sports. Ohio State lists Dubuque, Iowa, as her hometown and records her time with the Buckeyes volleyball program from 1993 through 1996.
She helped her team and won awards of her own. She received first-team All-Big Ten recognition in 1995 and an honorable mention in 1996. The American Volleyball Coaches Association also named her an All-District player in both years.
She earned those awards through her play, not just her place on the roster. Ohio State’s official women’s volleyball record book lists 3,159 assists and 709 digs across its recorded 1994 through 1996 seasons for Jen Boleyn.
In volleyball, an assist sets up a teammate to score. Her total shows how much the team relied on her to build its attacks. The same record book lists her as a participant in the 1994 United States Olympic Festival, another part of her athletic background that tends to get overlooked.
She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. She finished her degree in dental hygiene in 1998, two years after her final volleyball season. At college, she managed demanding sports and schoolwork. Her time there meant far more than meeting a future NFL coach.
The College Class Where Jen and Mike Met
Both were athletes at Ohio State in the 1990s. Mike played football, while Jen played volleyball. They met in a time-management class as freshmen. Both had to make room for classes, practice, and games.
In a 2018 interview with The Tennessean, she said she noticed Mike in class. She then asked their professor for his phone number. The two started dating while their sports careers were still taking shape.
Mike entered the NFL when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the 1997 draft. She finished her degree the next year. They married in 1999, during his time with Pittsburgh.
Ohio State remained an important part of their lives. In 2006, the couple donated $75,000 toward renovations at the university’s Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Both had played sports for the Buckeyes, so the gift came from two former athletes.
Building a Family Around an NFL Career
Mike’s playing career took him from the Steelers to the Patriots and later the Kansas City Chiefs. He won three Super Bowls with New England before retiring as a player in 2011. For Jen Vrabel, those moves meant family life shaped by NFL games, travel, and long workdays.
The schedule did not get much easier when Mike became a coach. He worked at Ohio State and with the Houston Texans before leading the Tennessee Titans from 2018 through 2023. After a year with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, he returned to New England as the Patriots’ head coach in January 2025.
Jen Vrabel knew the world of team sports long before Mike took those coaching jobs. She already understood the pace and pressure of team sports from her years at Ohio State.
Tyler Vrabel and His Football Path
The couple’s older son, Tyler, was born in 2000. He followed his parents into college sports, playing on the offensive line at Boston College. His path later included time with the Atlanta Falcons organization after joining as a rookie free agent in 2022.
Tyler’s experience gave the family another direct connection to the football world. As a college player, Tyler worked at the game himself. He later sought a place in the pros.
Carter Vrabel and College Baseball
Their younger son, Carter, was born in 2001 and pursued baseball. The Patriots’ official coaching biography lists his college stops as Wabash Valley College, Volunteer State Community College, and Tennessee Tech.
Baseball also shaped the family’s calendar. When Mike spoke about family time during his Tennessee coaching years, he described the importance of making room for Carter’s games. Their own home schedule included games that had nothing to do with the NFL.
Friday Nights, Family Time and Life Outside Football
The personal side of that schedule came through in a 2019 ESPN interview. Jen explained that Friday evenings often gave her and Mike a chance to have dinner together while one of their sons was at a high school football game.
She liked those nights because they had not always found time for them when Mike coached in college. Rather than a sweeping statement about family priorities, it was an ordinary detail that showed how the couple fitted their lives around football.
Jen Vrabel has kept a quieter public profile than Mike. She has given a few interviews and has attended games. Much of her life stays away from the cameras. Her athletic record, education, and family experiences remain the main parts of her story beyond his coaching work.
Her Place in the Patriots’ Return to New England
The family stepped into the spotlight on January 13, 2025. At Mike’s first press conference as New England head coach, owner Robert Kraft invited Jen Vrabel forward. He gave her flowers.
Mike thanked his wife and sons while discussing the people who had helped him reach that point. He also noted that Tyler and Carter had spent part of their childhood around New England, where he had enjoyed his most successful playing years.
For the family, the move was more than a new coaching job. It was a return to an organization that had been part of their lives during the boys’ early years. For Jen, the event brought back memories of the family’s earlier years with the Patriots.
What Changed in the Public Conversation in 2026
In April 2026, published photographs involving Mike and NFL reporter Dianna Russini drew attention to his marriage. Both initially disputed the suggestion that the photos showed a romantic relationship. Mike later spoke about difficult conversations with his family and said he would seek counseling.
When reporters asked about work and family on May 27, Mike said things were going well. He said he loved Jen and their sons. His words appear in the Patriots’ official May 27 press conference transcript.
Jen Vrabel and Mike also attended events together in the summer of 2026, including a family celebration for Tyler.
Questions Readers Often Ask
Is Jen Vrabel still married to Mike Vrabel?
They married in 1999 and were seen together at events in 2026. Mike also referred warmly to his wife and sons while speaking to Patriots reporters in May of that year.
What was her maiden name?
Jen Vrabel was known as Jen Boleyn before marriage. Ohio State’s athletic records list her under that name for the volleyball seasons from 1993 through 1996.
What did she study at Ohio State?
Jen Vrabel earned a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene in 1998. Earlier reporting also describes her working as a dental hygienist in Columbus, Ohio, during the start of Mike’s professional career.
Did Jen play volleyball at a high level?
Yes. She played for Ohio State. She made the All-Big Ten first team in 1995 and earned an honorable mention in 1996. She also made the AVCA All-District team twice. Her official college statistics include more than 3,000 assists.
How many children do Mike and Jen have?
They have two sons. Tyler played college football at Boston College, while Carter pursued college baseball, including a stint at Tennessee Tech.
A Story That Began Before the NFL Spotlight
Jen Vrabel’s Ohio State years tell us a lot about her life. She had her own demanding athletic career, completed a degree, and met Mike while both were still students. The couple later raised two sons as Mike moved from playing in the NFL to coaching its teams.
Fans may know her from the Patriots sideline, but her own years as a Buckeye deserve notice. They are part of the story, alongside the family she and Mike have built.
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