Christian Gonzalez expressed support for coach Mike Vrabel amid a photo controversy involving sports reporter Dianna Russini. He emphasized loyalty to Vrabel, stating he would back him anytime.
Key points
Christian Gonzalez supports coach Mike Vrabel
Photo scandal involves Dianna Russini
Gonzalez declined to discuss internal conversations
Other Patriots players also support Vrabel
Mentioned in this story
Christian GonzalezMike VrabelDianna Russini
New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel and Christian Gonzalez on Dec, 14, 2025 in MassachusettsCredit: Kathryn Riley/Getty
Mike Vrabel and Christian Gonzalez on Dec, 14, 2025 in Massachusetts
Credit: Kathryn Riley/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez spoke out regarding head coach Mike Vrabel's photo scandal with sports reporter Dianna Russini
Gonzalez declined to "speak on what we talked about inside the building," but assured reporters he would "ride behind Vrabes any time of the day"
Other Patriots players have spoken out in support of Vrabel amid the photo scandal
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez told reporters on Saturday, May 2, that he wouldn't share specifics of what Vrabel, 50, said to the team in the locker room about his photo controversy involving sports reporter Dianna Russini, but Gonzalez made it clear he and his teammates are ready to focus on football.
"We aināt gonna speak on what we talked about inside the building," Gonzalez, 23, told reporters, adding, "But I mean, thatās my coach. Thatās who I go out there and play for. Heās proven what he can do as a coach, and thatās my guy, and I ride behind Vrabes any time of the day."
Q&A
What did Christian Gonzalez say about Mike Vrabel's photo scandal?
Christian Gonzalez expressed his support for Mike Vrabel, stating he would always back him despite the ongoing photo controversy.
How have other Patriots players reacted to Mike Vrabel's situation?
Other New England Patriots players have also publicly supported Mike Vrabel amid the photo scandal.
What is the nature of the controversy involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini?
The controversy involves a photo scandal between head coach Mike Vrabel and sports reporter Dianna Russini, details of which have not been fully disclosed.
When did Christian Gonzalez speak out about the photo controversy?
Christian Gonzalez spoke out regarding the photo controversy on December 14, 2025.
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Mike Vrabel; Dianna Russini; Christian GonzalezCredit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty; Anna Webber/Getty; Kathryn Riley/Getty
Mike Vrabel; Dianna Russini; Christian Gonzalez
Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty; Anna Webber/Getty; Kathryn Riley/Getty
Gonzalez is the latest Patriots player who has spoken out about Vrabel, who departed the team during the 2026 NFL Draft last month to seek counseling. Quarterback Drake Maye previously told WHDH-TV 7News in Boston on April 29, āWeāre here for Coach, we love Coach.ā
Maye, 23, added, āWhat he does for us, what heās done for us this past year, you canāt speak into words. Thankful heās our head coach. Know heās dealing with some off the field and out of the coaching world, but weāre here for him and I know heās gonna come back."
Tight end Hunter Henry told reporters he thought Vrabel "did a great job" at addressing the scandal with his players, according to Yahoo Sports. "It's been the same Vrabes bringing a lot of energy in the room. So, I mean, obviously, he addressed it. That's kind of what I'll say about it," Henry, 31, said.
Linebacker Robert Spillane shared the same sentiment, saying, "Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing, the main thing," according to MassLive. "I know heās dealing with personal issues. But when weāre in the building, we speak football."
Spillane, 30, added, āI think everyoneās personal relationship with coach is their personal relationship with coach. Thatās not for me to speak on. I love coach and Iām going to be here to support him as he would be there to support me for anything.ā
Mike Vrabel on Feb. 10, 2026Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty
Mike Vrabel on Feb. 10, 2026
Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty
Vrabel stepped away from the team on the third day of the draft to seek ācounselingā after three sets of photos, taken between 2020 and 2026 and published in the New York Post and TMZ, showed him getting cozy with Russini, a married mother of two who was formerly the senior NFL insider at The Athletic.
