The New England Patriots have coach Mike Vrabel’s back after Page Six revealed more pictures of him and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini kissing while at a Tribeca Tavern in March of 2020 when he was teaching for the Tennessee Titans and she was an NFL insider at ESPN.
The team confirmed he will miss Rounds 4-7 of the draft after being in Pittsburgh Thursday and Friday spherical Rounds 1-3.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the team said in a assertion. “Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Vrabel, who has two sons with his spouse, Jen, said Wednesday evening he will be searching for counseling outside of Massachusetts and spending time with his household, according to ESPN.
Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini at Tribeca Tavern on March 11, 2020. © Page Six
Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini at Tribeca Tavern on March 11, 2020. © Page Six
Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini at Tribeca Tavern on March 11, 2020. © Page Six
He will still be in contact with the Patriots on Saturday for the remaining day of the draft.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel said Wednesday. “In order to do so, I have dedicated to searching for counseling, beginning this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
New England holds 11 picks in this yr’s draft, including the No. 31 choose of the first spherical. The Patriots have two picks in the fourth spherical, one in the fifth, 4 in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Vrabel is scheduled to converse to the media if the Patriots use their No. 31 choose in the first spherical of the draft.
It comes after The Post revealed separate pictures displaying Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other folks, holding fingers while at a resort in Arizona earlier this month.
Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel, and NFL reporter Dianna Russini at Ambiente Sedona lodge in Arizona on Saturday, March 28, 2026. © Page Six
Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel, and NFL reporter Dianna Russini at Ambiente Sedona lodge in Arizona on Saturday, March 28, 2026. © Page SIx
Both downplayed the pictures in statements, with Vrabel calling them “laughable,” and Russini including that “the photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”
Russini resigned from The Athletic a few days later amid an inside investigation by the New York Times, which owns the sports activities outlet.
Vrabel addressed the state of affairs for the first time on Tuesday, telling reporters it’s a “personal and private matter” and that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about.”
He described the conversations as “positive and productive.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during an NFL soccer press convention, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. AP
Vrabel also said he addressed the state of affairs in-house with his gamers, but made no point out of Russini.
The NFL said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s conduct, and he was not disciplined by the Patriots group.
The 2020 pictures of Vrabel and Russini present the pair sitting carefully on barstools in a dimly-lit tavern in the early hours of the morning on March 11.
Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party on February 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness informed Page Six. “He had a ring on.”
The pictures were taken six months before Russini married her now-husband, Shake Shack government Kevin Goldschmidt. They have two younger sons collectively.
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