New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel missed the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25 to begin counseling, a decision that raised eyebrows across the league.
The counseling came in the wake of photos published by Page Six showing Vrabel with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort in late March, followed by additional images from a 2020 encounter at a New York City bar.
NFL Executive Questions Mike Vrabel’s Draft Day Absence
Vrabel, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, was present for Rounds 1 through 3 on Thursday and Friday before stepping away for Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. For a team coming off a Super Bowl 60 appearance and a 14-3 season, the timing struck many around the NFL as difficult to justify.
According to The Athletic, one NFL executive offered a pointed assessment of Vrabel’s absence during the draft, hinting that the counseling could have waited 24 hours.
“More than half the draft happens on the last day, so that’s not the day to miss,” the executive said about Vrabel.
The critique carries weight as the third day of the draft has four rounds of selections, and for a roster still building toward sustained contention, those picks matter. The absence of the team’s head coach carries significant weight as newly drafted players usually want to hear from the coach, but for the Patriots, Vrabel wasn’t around.
Despite Vrabel’s absence, New England’s personnel staff stayed active, selecting six players on the third day of the draft. Here are the players they selected from Round 4 to Round 7 this year:
- CB Karon Prunty (Pick 171)
- OT Dametrious Crownover (Pick 196)
- LB Namdi Obiazor (Pick 212)
- QB Behren Morton (Pick 234)
- RB Jam Miller (Pick 245)
- EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins (Pick 247)
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Whether Vrabel’s one-day absence ultimately affects the trajectory of these picks won’t be known for years, but the optics of the head coach stepping away on the busiest day of the draft will linger as the 2026 NFL season approaches.
As for Russini, she resigned from The Athletic on April 14 amid an internal investigation. Vrabel addressed reporters twice before the draft, taking accountability and calling the situation a distraction to his family and the organization.
The Patriots players, including Drake Maye, showed support for their head coach. “We’re here for Coach, we love Coach,” Maye said. “What he does for us, what he’s done for us this past year, you can’t speak into words. Thankful he’s our head coach. Know he’s dealing with some off the field and out of the coaching world, but we’re here for him, and I know he’s gonna come back.”
Hunter Henry, who has been with the Patriots since 2021, also supported Vrabel. “I thought he did a great job,” Henry said. “You know, it’s been the same Vrabes bringing a lot of energy in the room. So, yeah, I mean, obviously he addressed it and, you know, that’s kind of what I’ll say about it.”
