Mike Vrabel announced he will miss part of the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend in order to seek counseling and be with his family
This comes after he addressed photos of himself and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini that circulated online showing them hugging and holding hands
The NFL said that the Patriots coach is not facing any disciplinary action from the league
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is heading to counseling following a photo scandal involving former NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel, 50, told told ESPN in a statement on Wednesday, April 22, that he would not be with the Patriots on the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, as he has instead pledged to be with his family over the weekend.
"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.
"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."
The statement comes weeks after Page Six published photos of the head coach, who is married to Jen Vrabel and has two sons, with Russini, who is also married. The images showed Vrabel and Russini, 43, hugging and holding hands at a luxury hotel in Arizona.
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the New York Post on Tuesday, April 7.
Russini told the outlet: "The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues."
Vrabel broke his silence on the photo scandal during a press conference on Tuesday, April 21, saying he waited to address the situation until he had a “conversation with the players” on the Patriots team. He also said he had “difficult conversations” with his family, the Patriots organization and coaches.
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"In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team, never want to be the cause of distraction,” he said.
Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, one week after the photos circulated. The media outlet, which is owned by The New York Times, also launched an investigation in the fallout of the photo scandal.
As for Vrabel, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PEOPLE that the coach is not under investigation for any violation regarding the league’s personal conduct policy.