New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, speaking in a press conference before the 2026 NFL Draft, confirmed that he will be away from the team during Day 3 of the Draft on Saturday. Vrabel's decision came days before more photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini together were made public on social media.
Vrabel said the decision is a result of a need to prioritize his family in a very turbulent time. “Whatever they need, I’m going to provide," Vrabel said just a few minutes before Round 1 of the Draft was set to begin. Vrabel was scheduled to be available to the media after the Patriots made their first selection at No. 31 overall.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said that Vrabel's conduct is being treated as a team matter and not a violation of the league's personal conduct policy. It remains to be seen if Vrabel's departure from the team will extend into something more permanent once his therapy is complete.
Patriots HC Mike Vrabel confirms he will be not be with team on Day 3 of NFL Draft
Vrabel originally made headlines when he and Russini, both of whom are married, were photographed holding hands and lounging in a hot tub at the Ambiente Sedona resort in Arizona. More photographs that were posted on social media have only amplified the media firestorm.
The New York Post's Page Six published photos from March 2020 that report to show Vrabel and Russini kissing and touching one another at a bar in New York City. TMZ followed that up with photos showing Vrabel and Russini at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, in January 2024. This came on the heels of Vrabel losing his job as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," said Vrabel in a statement released on the heels of the photos becoming public. Since then, Vrabel has been made available to the press twice, and both press conferences have seen him publically apologize.
Russini and The Athletic have parted ways since the photos became public, and The Athletic is still undergoing a review of Russini's past conduct, her relationship with Vrabel, her NFL coverage, and how truthful she was to the company in disclosing her meetings with Vrabel.
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