The New England Patriots are navigating what should be the most optimistic weekend of the offseason, but the 2026 NFL Draft has instead been completely overshadowed by off-field drama.
Head coach Mike Vrabel announced this week that he is seeking counseling and will miss Day 3 of the draft following the surfacing of scandalous photos of him with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.
How the NFL World Is Reacting to the Patriots’ Handling of the Mike Vrabel Scandal
Then, one day after Vrabel announced he will enter counseling on Saturday, Page Six leaked new photos that showed Vrabel and Russini kissing at a New York City bar six years ago on March 11, 2020.
Russini recently resigned from her position at The Athletic, but the fallout for Vrabel continues to escalate. While the NFL said that Vrabel wouldn’t be investigated and it initially seemed the Patriots head coach would escape unscathed, public outcry is now reaching a fever pitch, with analysts, influencers, and podcasts demanding the Patriots part ways with their head coach.
The optics of a head coach abandoning the draft war room to manage a self-inflicted tabloid crisis have not sat well with the football world. The distraction is immense, and rival fanbases are already piling on the dysfunction.
Pointing out the chaotic state of the AFC East rival, The Jet Press bluntly posted (perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek): “Fire him @Patriots”
However, the account then doubled down by adding, “Genuinely I do think this forces the NFL’s hand to at least launch an investigation. This clearly isn’t going away like they hoped. It’s a major violation of NFL media/coach ethics and all parties involved should face repercussions. Suspension feels like the bare minimum IMO. I don’t think the NFL can just sweep this under the rug. Vrabel has to face repercussions too.”
fire him @Patriots https://t.co/AiuTuWiIDh
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) April 23, 2026
That sentiment is being echoed loudly across sports talk radio and national media. Craig Carton of “The Craig Carton Show” didn’t mince words when discussing the severity of the distraction.
“There’s a chance now that Mike Vrabel gets fired — something else is coming next when it comes to Vrabel and the Patriots,” Carton said. “The New England Patriots and Mike Vrabel must be scared to death that something else is coming.”
COUNSELING STATEMENT SHOWS VRABEL MAY GET FIRED!
“Mike Vrabel is now going to counseling! There’s a chance now that Mike Vrabel gets fired — something else is coming next when it comes to Vrabel & the Patriots!” — Craig Carton@craigcartonlive @TyJohnsonNews #NFL #NFLDraft… pic.twitter.com/j9eESaIVET
— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) April 23, 2026
For a franchise that once prided itself on “The Patriot Way” and eliminating outside noise, Vrabel’s scandal represents a catastrophic breakdown in organizational culture.
Local media in Boston are particularly stunned by the lack of discipline.
Boston sports columnist Bill Speros wondered if this situation will change how Vrabel’s players see him, tweeting: “Translation: Vrabel lied… Can understand (not agree) why given the circumstances… Personal issues are personal – until they are not… Does this impact the way the players view him? … 3 weeks ago he was critical of a player for sharing a Bible verse… That dog won’t hunt anymore”
Translation: Vrabel lied
Can understand (not agree) why given the circumstances
Personal issues are personal – until they are not
Does this impact the way the players view him?
3 weeks ago he was critical of a player for sharing a Bible verse
That dog won’t hunt anymore https://t.co/MhDitBcnQj
— Bill Speros (@billsperos) April 22, 2026
Analysts are similarly perplexed by Vrabel’s decision to step away during the draft, arguing that it permanently compromises his authority in the locker room.
Adam Pensel pointed out the glaring disconnect, writing: “They’re going to do every possible thing they can to avoid it, but I wonder if the Patriots will have to fire Vrabel. This could get a lot worse than it is right now – bad enough that there won’t be any ways left for them to sugarcoat it.”
They’re going to do every possible thing they can to avoid it, but I wonder if the Patriots will have to fire Vrabel. This could get a lot worse than it is right now – bad enough that there won’t be any ways left for them to sugarcoat it.
— Adam (@adampensel) April 23, 2026
NFL writer Karan Sengupta added: “There’s definitely some chance Vrabel steps down for ‘personal reasons’ … not saying it’s gonna happen but it wouldn’t shock me.”
There’s definitely some chance Vrabel steps down for “personal reasons” not saying it’s gonna happen but it wouldn’t shock me
— Karan (@ksenguptaa) April 23, 2026
The unprecedented nature of the situation has even left NFL historians scratching their heads.
One NFL YouTuber chimed in: “One of the reasons I said Vrabel wasn’t going to get fired for this was because as scummy as what he did was, it doesn’t hinder his ability to perform his job Now? It’s actually hindering his ability to perform his job Somehow, he and Russini have picked the literal worst possible avenue at every step of the way to handling this entirely self-inflicted wound.”
One of the reasons I said Vrabel wasn’t going to get fired for this was because as scummy as what he did was, it doesn’t hinder his ability to perform his job
Now? It’s actually hindering his ability to perform his job
Somehow, he and Russini have picked the literal worst…
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) April 23, 2026
Just under three months ago, Vrabel led the Patriots back to the Super Bowl for the first time since Tom Brady left the team. Now, he will be away from the team on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, and the Patriots may have a tough decision on their hands.
The Patriots’ front office, led by Robert Kraft, must now decide whether a coach embroiled in a massive personal controversy is worth the headache.
If the overwhelming reaction on social media is any indication, the public’s verdict is already in: It’s time to fire him.
