Patriots Speak Out on Mike Vrabel as Dianna Russini Photo Drama Intensifies

Robert Kraft with Mike Vrabel and his wife Jen as Mike is announced as head coach of the New England Patriots on January 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts
Credit: Billie Weiss/Getty

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“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 [Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel] Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend."

The Patriots did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment.

Vrabel, who is entering his second year as New England's head coach, is "expected to be in the Draft room" Thursday night, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Patriots own the 30th overall pick in the first round of this year's draft.

The former NFL linebacker-turned-coach first announced Wednesday, April 22, that he would seek counseling after being at the center of a recent media firestorm, when Page Six published photos of him and Russini, who is also married, hugging and holding hands at a luxury resort in Arizona.

Both denied any wrongdoing to the outlet in early April.

The saga took a stunning twist on Thursday, when Page Six published a new batch of photos featuring Vrabel and Russini, 43, at a New York City bar in 2020. The two appeared to share a kiss in one photo while another featured Vrabel wearing his wedding ring with his hand on Russini's thigh.

PEOPLE has reached out to both for comment.

Russini announced her resignation from The Athletic on April 14 — days after the outlet, which is owned by The New York Times, said it was launching an investigation.

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