1 month ago
Mike Vrabel addressed reporters astatine nan 2026 NFL Draft connected nan heels of Page Six publishing photos of him and sports newsman Dianna Russini kissing astatine a New York City bar six years ago.
The New England Patriots coach — who was married to woman Jen Vrabel astatine nan clip nan March 2020 snaps were taken — announced a impermanent time off of absence earlier this week, complete our first batch of pictures showing nan duo holding hands and hugging astatine an Arizona edifice successful March.
“I promised my family, this statement and this squad that I was going to springiness them nan champion type of maine that I tin perchance springiness them,” Mike, 50, told ESPN.
“In bid to do so, I person committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” he continued. “This is thing that I person fixed a batch of thought to and is thing I would counsel a subordinate to do if I was counseling them.”
Mike clarified that while he would beryllium successful interaction pinch nan Patriots staff, he would not beryllium coming for Day 3 nan NFL draught successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, complete nan weekend.
Instead, he would beryllium extracurricular of Massachusetts pinch his assemblage sweetheart, whom he wed successful 1999, and their 2 sons.
In ray of nan news, nan Patriots released nan pursuing connection to Page Six:
“The New England Patriots afloat support Mike Vrabel’s determination to prioritize his family first, arsenic good arsenic his ain well-being. Mike has been unfastened pinch america astir his committedness to being nan champion type of himself for his family, this squad and our fans, and we respect nan steps he is taking to travel done connected that commitment.
“We are assured successful nan activity and connection Mike has established pinch our unit force passim this pre-draft process. While he will not beryllium coming astatine nan installation connected Saturday, we cognize nan draught evaluations are complete and [football executive] Eliot Wolf and his unit force are prepared to execute our draught arsenic planned this weekend.”
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The Patriots clasp 11 selections and person nan 31st wide prime successful nan first information of nan 2026 NFL Draft.
Earlier this week, Mike appeared astatine a pre-draft presser astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough, Massachusetts, wherever he finally collapsed his silence connected nan caller headlines.
He said astir nan “difficult conversations” he’d had pinch his family, calling nan talks “positive and productive.”
The retired extracurricular linebacker vowed to bring his loved ones — arsenic good arsenic his colleagues and players — nan “best version” of himself “going forward.”
He added, “In bid to beryllium successful connected and disconnected nan field, you person to make bully decisions. That includes me. That starts pinch me.”
Mike dodged questions astir nan ungraded aft his speech, telling press, “I admit your occupation and what you guys person sewage to do, but I person to make my comments and what I reply astir our shot team.”
When photos of Mike and Russini, 43, first surfaced connected April 7, nan second claimed, “The photos don’t correspond nan group of six group who were hanging retired during nan day. Like astir journalists successful nan NFL, reporters interact pinch sources distant from stadiums and different venues.”
She subsequently resigned from nan New York Times’ nan Athletic, penning successful her resignation letter, “I do truthful not because I judge nan communicative that has been constructed astir this episode, but because I garbage to lend it further oxygen aliases to fto it specify maine aliases my career.”
Vrabel, for his part, insisted, “These photos show a wholly guiltless relationship and immoderate proposal different is laughable.”
The 2 claimed they were pinch friends, though aggregate eyewitnesses told america otherwise.
Page Six released further pictures connected Wednesday of Vrabel and Russini having breakfast astatine nan luxury Arizona hotel.
As for nan 2020 photos published Thursday, Vrabel — successful summation to appearing to buss Russini — sat adjacent to nan newsman astatine nan Tribeca Tavern barroom pinch his manus connected her limb and arm.
Russini was six months awkward of stepping down nan aisle pinch then-fiancé Kevin Goldschmidt astatine nan time, pinch whom she now shares 2 sons.
“They were kissing and they were each complete each other,” a root told us. “They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly.”
Reps for Vrabel and Russini person yet to remark connected nan latest headline-making snaps.
