Mike Vrabel may miss more time with Patriots after new photos with Dianna Russini emerge
from Clark Dalton, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbaker.com
CLICK HERE for photo of Mike Vrabel, which pretty much sums up, how this thing is going…
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is set to miss the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday to seek counseling. Now he may miss more time from the team after more photos of him with longtime NFL insider Dianna Russini surfaced on Thursday.
The New York Post published photographs of Vrabel and Russini sharing a kiss and “sitting very close to each other” in a bar in New York City in March 2020. Vrabel was married when the photo was taken and is still married to his wife. Russini, meanwhile, was engaged to her now-husband. The outlet previously revealed photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging during a stay at a hotel in Sedona, Arizona, in late March.
After the pictures circulated online, Vrabel called an impromptu news conference before the first round of the draft. The coach apologized to his team for creating a distraction. He added that he plans to be there for his family while balancing his responsibilities as a coach.
Mike Vrabel indicates he may spend more time away from team
“I can’t answer that,” Vrabel said when asked if he could miss more time (h/t CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). “I can only say whatever my family needs, that’s whatever I’m going to provide.”
Vrabel initially called the situation “laughable.” He explained why he’s changing his response nearly three weeks later.
“That’s a private and personal matter,” the coach said. “I think that was an attempt to protect your family.”
The Patriots have already issued a statement saying they’re supporting Vrabel amid his decision to spend more time with family.
The Athletic is still investigating Russini’s hotel photos. She has already resigned from the publication, which she joined in August 2023. She worked for ESPN from July 2015-August 2023.
It doesn’t appear the NFL will discipline Vrabel. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in an interview before the draft, commissioner Roger Goodell said it’s not launching a probe because it didn’t fall under the league’s personal conduct policy and is a team matter.