The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh was meant to be Mike Vrabel’s victory lap after an AP Coach of the Year season. Instead, the Patriots’ war room will miss its captain as they look to draft for the future.
Following the release of bombshell photos by Page Six, which allegedly show Vrabel and former NFL insider Dianna Russini at a luxury Arizona resort and a dimly lit NYC bar years prior, the Patriots head coach has taken an indefinite leave for counseling and will miss Day 3 of the NFL draft.
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel Speaks on Participating In Team Activities
Vrabel addressed the media on Thursday, and when asked about his return for upcoming team activities, he said, “I can’t answer that. I can only say whatever my family needs, that’s what I’m going to provide.”
Asked if he’s going to miss any further football-related activities beyond Saturday’s draft, Vrabel says he’s not sure. “I can’t answer that. I can only say whatever my family needs, that’s what I’m going to provide.”
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 23, 2026
“My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to,” Vrabel declared in the same address. In addition, when asked to explain how he went from calling the situation “laughable” nearly three weeks ago to today’s situation, Vrabel said, “That’s a private and personal matter. I think that was an attempt to protect your family.”
Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has maintained the stance that the organization won’t investigate the matter. He also spoke on the same on Thursday with Mike Greenberg and said, “This is not a personal conduct policy… It’s a personal matter, and we’ll leave it at that… I think the teams handle these matters when they’re personal matters.”
But the scandal is far from over. After Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 amid an internal investigation, the latest reports suggest that Russini has since deleted her social media handle on X.
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TMZ also published new pictures of Vrabel and Russini that allegedly showed the two meeting in a casino weeks after Vrabel’s firing from the Titans in 2024.
The complete focus has shifted away from the draft, and with Vrabel now seeking counseling without a fixed return date in the sight, things are taking an ugly turn for the Patriots.
Executive VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf is now running the draft board, but the Patriot Way requires a singular, disciplined voice at the top, a voice that is currently silent.
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