The NFL Draft began today, but Mike Vrabel will not be present for the New England Patriots on Day 3 after confirming he will spend the weekend away from the team to begin counseling. It’s his latest move amid the photo drama involving him and former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, the Patriots issued a formal statement expressing support for Vrabel’s decision to step away and prioritize his well-being. While Russini faced an internal probe from her former publications and had to resign, Vrabel has held onto his coaching job and has now even received support.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment,” the Patriots said.
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The Patriots Seem Intent On Keeping Vrabel
In early March, Page Six dropped a set of photos showing Vrabel and Russini spending time at a resort in Arizona. Now, the entertainment news website has released a fresh batch of resurfaced photos from 2020. In the photos, the coach and the reporter were seen hanging out at the Tribeca Tavern in New York City.
Throughout the saga, Vrabel, who is married and has two sons, and Russini, who is also married, denied affair rumors. Meanwhile, in her resignation letter, Russini asserted that her departure is not a sign of her embracing the narrative. She also defended her body of work, saying everything was produced with pure journalistic integrity and ethics as she was internally investigated by The Athletic.
The Patriots, on the other hand, have not directly addressed this controversy. This is the first time they have commented on anything remotely close to the issue, as the release of their statement coincided with Page Six’s publication of their 2020 photos. Even still, they focused on his absence in the draft. The team emphasized that Vrabel had been transparent with the organization.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend,” the Patriots wrote.
On Day 1 of the draft, the Patrios picked offensive tackle Caleb Lomu 28th overall. He reportedly stayed in the draft room during the process and was accompanied by the team. He will be absent on the final day due to his counseling.
Last season, Vrabel led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Their overwhelming support for the coach despite his involvement in the controversy signals that they want to keep him in the position.
Published: Apr 24, 2026 12:30 pm