Mike Vrabel talks about ‘difficult conversations’ he had during Dianna Russini drama
Patriots head coach Mike Vrbael spoke to the media for the first time since photos of him with Dianna Russini were leaked.
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New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as he begins counseling, it was revealed on Wednesday, April 22nd.
Vrabel declined to say what kind of assistance he was pursuing. His statement came a day after he said he had “difficult conversations” with his family and members of the Patriots after photos of him and The Athletic’s former NFL insider Deanna Russini first surfaced.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization, this team that I would give the best version of myself that I could. To that end, I have committed to starting counseling this weekend,” Vrabel said, according to ESPN. “This is something I’ve thought about a lot and if I were counseling a player, that’s what I would advise them to do.
“I always want to lead by example and believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach I can be. It’s not easy to admit this, but it’s something I know will make me a better person. I thank you all for the support you’ve given me and I promise to be stronger as a result.”
In his first public remarks to the media, Vrabel did not answer questions about Russini, who was photographed with him on the rooftop of Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, ahead of the NFL’s annual league meeting in Phoenix. On April 7, the New York Post published a photo of Ms. Vrabel, who is married to another man, and Ms. Russini, wearing swimsuits and cuddling poolside.
Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, insisting, “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand by every article I have ever published.” The Athletic, which is part of the New York Times, had planned to continue reviewing Russini’s work after he left office.
Vrabel, who has a lot of influence over the Patriots’ personnel, will miss Saturday’s final four rounds of the draft, during which New England is scheduled to take eight of the 11 picks. Elliott Wolfe, executive vice president of player personnel, and Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel, will continue to develop the team’s draft strategy in Vrabel’s absence.
