Mike Vrabel is entering his second season as head coach of the New England Patriots after a difficult stretch that brought unusual attention away from football. The controversy surrounding him and Dianna Russini led to difficult conversations with his family, players, and the organization.
Vrabel stepped away from the team on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling, making personal improvement part of his preparation. Now, he was asked about the biggest takeaways from his counseling and whether he’ll continue seeing a counselor going forward.
Mike Vrabel Asked About Biggest Takeaways From Counseling After Dianna Russini Controversy
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Vrabel was asked about what he learned from his offseason counseling. The Patriots head coach connected his counseling experience to a broader commitment to improvement rather than discussing any details from his personal life behind it. He emphasized that the work applies to him, his coaching staff, and the players as they prepare for a different season.
“I think we always look at improvement,” Vrabel said. “As we talk about getting ready for the next season, we always look at improvement and ways that we can improve individually, and how we can improve as a team. It’s really critical that we continue to do that, on and off the field. I believe in that. I believe in everything that we can do to help this football team, to help our coaches, to help myself, and everybody else included.”
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel gave a detailed response when asked what he learned from his offseason counseling:
“I think we always look at improvement. As we talk about getting ready for the next season, we always look at improvement and ways that we can improve individually, and… pic.twitter.com/EXx4DJjfjt
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 11, 2026
Vrabel said the Patriots cannot approach the coming season as a continuation of what happened previously. He also stressed that preparation now needs to account for both individual responsibilities and the team’s collective development.
“This journey that we’re gonna go on is gonna be completely different than the one we went on last year,” Vrabel said. “All of our jobs is to prepare for it now. So, really focused on our improvement individually and as a team. And that’s something that we can do today.”
This approach also extends to football-specific issues. Vrabel pointed to the offensive line as an area where the Patriots must improve, particularly with combination blocks and the group’s ability to work together. Last season, New England’s offensive line graded out as the 14th-best unit in the league, according to PFN’s OL Impact Score.
“You look at the o-line and we talk about them and their ability to play together as a unit. There’s so many combination blocks that they’re involved in and we have to be better,” he said. “Again, five o-line have to be able to sustain the line of scrimmage. I just walked into that meeting room and said, ‘How do we improve? How do we improve our combination blocks? I’m not asking you to block everybody 1-on-1.’”
He then added, “So, I think we all have areas we can improve on, and that includes the coaches.”
The Vrabel-Russini scandal began in April 2026 after photos showed them together at an adult-only resort in Arizona. In the subsequent weeks, Russini resigned from The Athletic amid an internal investigation into her reporting. The NFL, however, declined a formal investigation into Vrabel, calling it a personal matter.
So far, The Athletic has yet to publicly release its investigation findings.
MORE: Podcaster Gets Brutally Honest About The Athletic’s Stance on Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Scandal
Vrabel made it clear that counseling is not being treated as a one-time exercise. When asked whether it would continue during the season, he said the Patriots will maintain a focus on mental fitness.
“We’re gonna always find ways to prepare and focus on our mental fitness. That’s gonna continue with me, the coaches, the staff, and our players. So, I love what Dr. JJ does for our football team and our ability to use that as a resource,” Vrabel said, referencing the Patriots’ clinical and performance psychologist, Jonathan Jenkins.
For Vrabel, the message is now centered on continued work, both personally and for everybody within the Patriots organization.
