FOXBOROUGH, Mass — New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel took a moment before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft to address reporters regarding the new information that has come out about the controversy with NFL Insider Dianna Russini.
"Again, I just want to reiterate the gratitude that I had the other day that you guys have shown in a personal and private matter, and I want to address the news regarding my current situation. I understand that there are questions, but I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about: my family, this football team, the organization, and our fans.
"My previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don't. And what I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps together and to give them what I told them I'd give them, which is the best version of me. And that's what we're going to do. And that's going to start, and that has started, and that'll continue this weekend, and it'll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible. And that's what's going to happen, and that's what's been happening.
"I'm grateful to Robert and Jonathan for their support and I'm thankful to the coaches and their support. Most especially, I'm thankful for the players. They're the ones that allow us to win games. They're the ones that allow us to coach them. And I appreciate their support. We've got a lot of great men in there and I appreciate each and every one of them.
Like I told you before, my priorities are my family and this football team, in that order. And there's a balance there that I am going to create. My family needs me this weekend, and that's where I'll be. But I'm confident in the people that we have. I'm confident in the preparation. I'm thankful for Eliot and his staff that have prepared us for this night, for this weekend. I ask that, somehow, you allow those players that we bring onto this football team, allow them the excitement and joy of recognizing their dream and starting a journey. I hope that you can do that.
And again, I'm focused on this team moving forward, and out of respect for my family, I won't have any more comments or answers to touch on."
Vrabel also answered a few questions from reporters.
Q: What made Saturday the best time to step away, other than the time later when the draft isn't going on?
Vrabel: "Well, when you prioritize your family first and your job, that's what's required. And that's what was necessary. I got a lot of support from everybody involved. And so that's what I was able to do, and willingly. I want to do that. It's important to me. But there's also a balance there. When my family needs me, I'll be there. And I know that there's a way to give them the best version of me and also provide and get what I need from my family and this football team.
Q: Do you anticipate missing any other football activities in the coming weeks?
Vrabel: "I can't answer that. I can only say that whatever my family needs, that's what I'm going to provide. But I also understand what's needed from me here. This is an exciting time. We just finished our first week. Guys are excited. I see leaders developing among the new players that we brought onto the team. And I'm confident that if I weren't able to be here, that we have people in place that can support them and do those things. I'm not sure what's going to be needed of me, but I just know I'm going to take the necessary steps with the people that I care about. That's my family and this team."
Q: It was reported that even though you would be away from the team on Saturday, you would still be in communication with the team. Can you explain that?
Vrabel: "I'll obviously try to communicate with Eliot, Ryan, and Stretch or Robert if that's necessary. But I have to do what's needed of me with my family. So again, I'm confident that whatever they need, I'm going to provide and I'm excited about the work that everybody's done, Eliot and his staff, to get us here to this point. And I'm confident that just like last year, we'll come out of this draft with players that our fans are going to enjoy watching and will be good teammates and will help us win."
Q: Do you feel like you have to prove yourself to the guys that were in this locker room last year?
Vrabel: "I just have to make them a priority. That's what I have to do. I have to make my family and this football team the priority, and I'm excited about giving them the best version of me possible, and being able to coach and teach and develop and all those things that we talk about that we believe in and that we know are important."
Q: Can you talk about how, over the last two and a half weeks, we went from you insinuating the photos were "laughable" to your comments Tuesday to now, you deciding to go to counseling. What is that process?
Vrabel: “That's a private and personal matter. I think that that was always an attempt to protect your family. And I would never be dismissive, but I think my family and this football team are the most important thing, and that’s what I plan to do, and I’m excited about the challenge with both of those things.”
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel issues new statement ahead of NFL draft