Many considered former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and his wife of 28 years, Claire, to be the perfect couple. But that perfect image was shattered by the news that Marino, 51, fathered a love child with a CBS employee in 2005.
The now 7-year-old girl, Chloe, lives with her mother, Donna Savattere, a CBS Sports production assistant, and Donna’s husband, Nahill Yunis, whom she met in the Bahamas after her fling with Marino, The NY Post reports.
Marino met Savattere in the halls of CBS where he has worked as a sports analyst for the past 10 years.
“They had an affair, and she had a baby,” a source told The NY Post. “Everything was on the down-low and secretive.”
Marino and his wife Claire celebrated their 28th anniversary on Wednesday. The NY Post broke the news of his love child in today’s newspaper edition.
Marino came clean about sowing his wild oats in a written statement to the Post.
“This is a personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally and financially for my actions now as I did then. We mutually agreed to keep our arrangement private to protect all parties involved.”
The Marinos have three boys and three girls together. Chloe was born about two months before Marino’s Hall of Fame induction, the NY Post reports.
“My wife and I have been married for almost 30 years and have six children together,” he wrote in his statement to the Post.
“And we continue to be a strong and loving family,” he added.
The NY Post reports that after Marino paid Savattere “millions” to support his daughter, the single mother began “living large” on Marino’s dime.
The paper calls her a “fixture” on the Upper West Side and the Hamptons social scenes. She even appears in photos in the high society social rags.
The paper didn’t confirm rumors that Savattere blew through the money and she reportedly tried to extort Marino for more cash.
A source told the Post Marino had “impromptu meetings” with his daughter, which was part of the deal,” a source told the Post.
“Donna was always saying she had to go meet with her lawyers to go over the scheduling and other issues,” the source said.
Marino will provide color commentary along with other former NFL stars for hours before Sunday’s Super Bowl telecast from New Orleans.
Photos: Adriel Reboh/Patrick McMullan.com, Getty Images
