Patriots 'confident' in Mike Vrabel amid more photo leaks. What team said

The New England Patriots "fully support" coach Mike Vrabel and his decision to step away from the team during the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 25.

Vrabel told ESPN late Wednesday that he would be "committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend" amid the saga involving himself and former The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini and intimate photos of the two of them published by the New York Post.

“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being," the team wrote on 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

“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.”

The team's statement came as a tabloid published more photographs earlier Thursday, these purporting to show Vrabel and woman at a New York City bar more than six years ago.

Vrabel previously addressed the media on Tuesday, April 21, and thanked the media for privacy. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on April 20 that Vrabel is not under investigation for any violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

After issuing a dismissive statement after the photos from Arizona first emerged, saying at the time that they didn't "deserve any further response,"  on April 21 at the Patriots' facility in Foxborough, Massachusetts.