New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be with his team on the final day of the NFL Draft. Instead, he will enter counseling, a decision he announced as part of his response to the controversy surrounding photos of him and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
The scandal erupted after photos surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini together at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona, on March 28. The images captured the pair hugging, holding hands, and lounging by a pool. Both are married with children.
Both initially denied any wrongdoing. Vrabel called the suggestion that the photos showed anything inappropriate “laughable.” Russini said the images did not represent the larger group of people they were with that day.
On Wednesday, April 22, Vrabel revealed he would miss Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday, April 25, to begin counseling.
“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. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel said.
He added that the decision was something he had given a lot of thought to and was the same advice he would give a player in his position.
The day before his counseling announcement, Vrabel addressed reporters at the team’s facility. He acknowledged having “difficult conversations with people I care about”, his family, the organization, the coaches, and the players.
He did not take questions about Russini directly. When asked whether he still found the situation “laughable,” he pivoted, saying he was focused on the football team.
He promised that his family, the organization, and the fans would get the best version of him going forward.
The fallout hit Russini harder professionally. She resigned from The Athletic less than a week after the photos were published, before her contract was set to expire on June 30. The New York Times-owned outlet had launched an internal investigation into her conduct.
In her resignation letter, Russini stood by her work and dismissed the media speculation as “unmoored from the facts.” She said she refused to let the episode define her or her career.
The NFL is not investigating Vrabel’s conduct. The league stated last weekend that no inquiry was planned.
Vrabel will miss the final four rounds of the draft, during which the Patriots hold eight of their 11 picks. He said he plans to spend the weekend with his wife and children outside of Massachusetts while staying in touch with the team’s front office.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Vrabel will be present for the first two days before leaving to begin his counseling commitment.
