The New England Patriots expressed their support for head coach Mike Vrabel skipping day three of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling amid the ongoing Dianna Russini controversy.
“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 in a statement released Thursday, April 23. “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 statement continued, “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.”
Vrabel, 50, announced on Wednesday, April 22, that he would not be with the organization when it drafts in rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.
“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,” he said in a separate statement. “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.”
Vrabel continued, “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.”
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Vrabel and the former Athletic reporter Russini, 43, have been the subject of media and fan scrutiny since Page Six published photos of the two of them together at a resort in Arizona earlier this month. Though both initially said the photos were innocent, Russini later resigned from The Athletic amid an internal investigation. Vrabel and Russini are both married with children.
Since then, more photos have surfaced of the pair together over the past six years. That includes images from Page Six published on Thursday that show the two appearing to kiss and hold hands at a bar in New York in 2020. Later in the day, TMZ released a 2024 photo of them together at a casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Vrabel is scheduled to speak to the media Thursday night if the Patriots make a selection in the first round of the NFL Draft. There will be no media availability if the team trades away its pick.
