Dan Marino has openly admitted to fathering a “love child” with Donna Savattere–a former CBS Sports employee–in 2005 and says he’s taken full responsibility for her ever since, despite the fact that his marriage to wife Claire is as solid as ever.

“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. My wife and I have been married for almost 30 years and have six children together. And we continue to be a strong and loving family,” he said in a statement.

Marino made the statement after The New York Post broke the news. The admission comes just days ahead of the Super Bowl, where Marino will be broadcasting. Savattere has been quiet about the affair, but Marino has reportedly paid dearly to keep his daughter a secret, with figures ranging in the millions of dollars.

“They had an affair, and she had a baby,” said a source. “Everything was on the down-low and secretive.”

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Image: Adriel Reboh/Patrick McMullan.com