The New England Patriots were already going to have a lot of attention on them this offseason. Going from a four-win team to representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, they had one of the best single-season turnarounds in recent memory.
However, it quickly became clear that a non-football story would dominate their offseason when head coach Mike Vrabel was exposed for a scandal involving NFL reporter Dianna Russini. But, from the looks of things, he hasn’t lost his locker room yet.
Mike Vrabel Still Has Support in the Patriots’ Locker Room
Since the pictures from Arizona first went public, the story has spread like wildfire. From resurfaced interview moments and suspicious old posts on X, to tampering allegations and even an alleged Spotify playlist, the saga has featured plenty of twists and turns.
Russini resigned from The Athletic, while Vrabel stepped away from the Patriots on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to enter counseling, and he has admitted to having difficult conversations with the team and his family in the aftermath of the photos leaking.
The story has transcended sports and become mainstream news, with new information and details dropping nearly every day. Now, many wonder how this will affect the Patriots. The organization has supported Vrabel publicly, and his players have had his back as well.
Still, there has been plenty of speculation that this could hang over the Patriots’ season, as it seems like a major distraction and it could impact how Vrabel’s players perceive him.
However, Drake Maye doesn’t seem concerned about that in the slightest. The NFL MVP runner-up is coming off a career year with the Patriots, helping them win 14 games and reach the Super Bowl. Maye was asked if he believes the scandal will be a distracton, and he said no.
“No, I don’t. I mean, he’s our head coach,” Maye said about Vrabel. “I think he’s done a great job of talking to us and talking us through it.”
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From the looks of it, Maye seems completely on board with Vrabel remaining the head coach of the Patriots.
Doubling down on his admiration, he added, “I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and getting ready. I know he’s got the right mindset, and I know he’s a great human being… like I said, I love playing for him.”
While Maye and a few other players have publicly backed Vrabel, it remains to been if every player will be so supportive. Also, it’s always possible that additional details could surface, especially since Russini has yet to tell her side of the story.
With the NFL’s schedule release around the corner, it will be worth monitoring whether other NFL franchises crack jokes about the scandal or if they leave it alone. This story has captured the nation’s attention and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, especially since new information continues to surface.
