Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling as more photos emerge, and will miss Day 3 of NFL draft
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- Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft as he seeks counseling in the aftermath of photos recently being published of him and reporter Dianna Russini.
- The photos appear to show Russini and Vrabel — both married to other people — holding hands and in hot tubs together and sparked widespread scrutiny.
- Vrabel told reporters Tuesday that he’s had “difficult conversations” with family, coaches and players about the matter, promising “the best version of me going forward.”
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft as he seeks counseling in the aftermath of photos recently being published of him and reporter Dianna Russini interacting at an Arizona resort.
ESPN was first to report the news, stating that the second-year Patriots coach plans to spend the weekend with his family outside of Massachusetts. Vrabel and his wife, Jen, have two adult sons.
“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. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel told ESPN on Wednesday night. “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.
NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from the Athletic days after viral photos showed her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort. They have both denied any impropriety.
“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.”
Sam Farmer projects quarterback Fernando Mendoza will get selected No. 1 by the Raiders, but the rest of the draft should include more surprises.
On April 7, the New York Post’s Page Six published photos that appeared to show Vrabel and Russini holding hands, hugging and sitting in a hot tub and a swimming pool.
In the article that accompanied the photos, Vrabel and Russini, who worked for the Athletic at the time, gave statements denying that anything inappropriate was happening between them.
On Thursday, Page Six published another article with photos it said were of Vrabel and Russini together at a New York bar on March 11, 2020. The two people in the photos can be seen making physical contact while conversing and, in one, possibly kissing.
“Page Six contacted both Vrabel and Russini on Wednesday afternoon regarding the photos,” the article states. “While neither commented for this story, Vrabel told ESPN just hours later that he will miss day three of the NFL draft to enter counseling.”
Rams coach Sean McVay is excited about possibly adding a “really good player” with the No. 13 pick of the 2026 NFL draft, but the team is keeping its options open.
The Patriots addressed the matter in a statement Thursday afternoon.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the team said. “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.
“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 [executive vice president of player personnel] Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Vrabel opened a news conference Tuesday by addressing a “personal and private matter.”
“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel said. “Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me; that starts with me.
The Chargers could use help at defensive end, but general manager Joe Hortiz says finding the best player available is his 2026 NFL draft priority.
“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of the distraction. These are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team. We’ll keep those private and to ourselves.
“I care deeply about this football team and am excited to coach it. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus. And what I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward.”
A Patriots spokesman said on Tuesday that team officials have no plans to address the issue further. The NFL has indicated it is not investigating the matter.
Mike Tomlin was coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons. This fall, he will transition to TV as a studio analyst for NBC’s ‘Football Night in America.’
In the Page Six article, Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg expressed full support for Russini and said the photos “are misleading and lack essential context.” Days later, however, the New York Times, owner of the Athletic, reported that the digital sports outlet would conduct an investigation.
On April 14, Russini submitted her letter of resignation to the Athletic, then posted it on X. In it, Russini states she has “no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
“This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” Russini wrote. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks. ... Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
