"I Promised My Family": Mike Vrabel Announces Temporary Leave From Patriots Draft Duties Amid Dianna Russini Controversy

Sport Bilder des Tages May 20, 2025 Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks to the media before the team s OTA held on the practice field at Gillette Stadium. /CSM Foxborough USA - ZUMAc04_ 20250520_zma_c04_023 Copyright: xEricxCanhax ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

After his questionable pictures with the former The Athletic correspondent Dianna Russini were leaked, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced his decision to take a leave during the upcoming NFL draft. Vrabel and Russini were seen together at the Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona, before the NFL annual meeting in Phoenix. Since then, during a media interaction on April 22, Vrabel revealed his decision, citing family reasons.

“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 give them. To do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel said Wednesday night, as per ESPN. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I were counseling them.”

On Tuesday, Vrabel first addressed the media since the New York Post published photos that appeared to show the coach embracing and holding hands with Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona.

He told reporters that the incident was a “personal and private matter” and shared that he had “some difficult conversations with people I care about”—his family, the Patriots, the coaching staff, and the players.

Vrabel has two sons with his wife, Jen, and plans to be with his family this weekend outside of Massachusetts, as he will miss the NFL Draft on Saturday. He also revealed he will be in contact with the Patriots, but Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf and Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden will lead the draft room.