Mike Vrabel Addresses His ‘Actions’ in First Statement Since Release of Dianna Russini Pictures from 2020

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced Thursday he will take a leave of absence from the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling, following the release of incriminating photos linking him to former reporter Dianna Russini.

The admission marks a stark reversal for Vrabel, 50, who previously dismissed allegations of an affair as “innocent.” Speaking to reporters ahead of the draft’s opening round, Vrabel took accountability for what he termed a “distraction” to the organization and his family.

“My priorities are my family and this football team, in that order,” Vrabel said. “My family needs me this weekend and that’s where I’ll be.”

The coach’s statement followed a Page Six report published Thursday morning featuring photos from March 10, 2020. The images depict Vrabel and Russini, 43, in an intimate encounter at a bar. One photo shows the pair kissing, while another captures Vrabel—wearing his wedding ring—with his hand on Russini’s thigh.

This evidence contradicts the duo’s initial denials issued earlier this month, after they were photographed together at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. At that time, Vrabel categorized the meeting as a professional interaction, while Russini claimed the photos were taken out of context.

The scandal has already claimed the career of Russini, one of the league’s most prominent insiders. She resigned from The Athletic on April 14, following the initial Sedona report. While Russini defended her journalistic integrity in her resignation letter, she refused to participate in a formal review process initiated by the publication, citing a desire to avoid “public inquiry.”

Russini had broken several high-profile stories regarding Vrabel’s coaching tenure, raising significant ethical questions regarding the proximity between a primary source and a lead reporter.

Vrabel’s absence on the third day of the draft creates a leadership vacuum during a critical phase of the Patriots’ roster construction. The coach declined to confirm whether he would miss further team activities or mandatory minicamps in the coming weeks, labeling the nature of his counseling a “private and personal matter.”

The Patriots organization has not yet commented on whether Vrabel will face internal disciplinary action for the conduct or the subsequent distraction during the league’s most vital offseason event.