1 month ago
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, embroiled successful a contention involving his narration pinch erstwhile NFL newsman Dianna Russini, is stepping distant from nan squad indefinitely to activity counseling and beryllium pinch his family.
The news, first reported by ESPN, intends Vrabel will miss portion of nan NFL Draft that originates connected Thursday and runs done Saturday. Vrabel will beryllium distant from nan squad nan full time connected Saturday.
Saturday is nan time nan NFL Draft will behaviour rounds 4 done 7. The Patriots presently ain 8 picks successful those rounds, including 2 successful nan 4th round.
New England Patriots caput coach Mike Vrabel celebrates aft nan AFC title crippled against nan Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field At Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Club executive vice president of subordinate unit Eliot Wolf will beryllium orchestrating nan full draught for nan Patriots on pinch vice president of subordinate unit Ryan Cowden. Even if Vrabel is disposable by telephone for input, it evidently won't beryllium nan aforesaid for nan Patriots arsenic it was successful nan 2025 draft, nan coach's first pinch nan team.
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"As I said nan different day, 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," Vrabel said successful a statement released to ESPN.
"In bid to do so, I person committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. 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.
"I person ever wanted to lead by example, and I judge this is what I person to do to beryllium nan champion husband, begetter and coach that I perchance tin be. This is not an easy point for maine to admit, but it is 1 that I cognize will make maine a amended person. I admit nan support that everyone has fixed maine and committedness a stronger resoluteness arsenic a result."
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New England Patriots caput coach Mike Vrabel speaks to reporters astatine nan NFL yearly meetings successful Phoenix connected March 31, 2026. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)
While it whitethorn look for illustration this is bully news because Vrabel evidently sees a problem he needs to address, nan timing of his separation from nan squad suggests nan business is dire and needs contiguous attraction sloppy of nan NFL calendar.
It should beryllium noted nan Patriots besides conscionable started their offseason programme this week and that will proceed adjacent week, perchance without Vrabel.
The counseling is apparently a measurement Vrabel is taking to amended himself but besides prevention his marriage.
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Vrabel plans to beryllium pinch his woman Jennifer and his 2 sons extracurricular of Massachusetts, ESPN reported.
Vrabel and Jennifer person been married since 1999. In 2024 they celebrated their 25th wedding day pinch a travel to Italy. The mates met while some were student-athletes astatine Ohio State University.
It’s been a unsmooth period for Vrabel, albeit because he brought it upon himself.
Days aft returning from nan NFL yearly gathering successful Phoenix connected March 31, Vrabel was contacted by nan New York Post seeking remark connected nan truth nan insubstantial was successful possession of seemingly compromising photos of nan coach and Russini, who worked for The Athletic astatine nan clip arsenic an NFL reporter.
The coach and newsman spent clip together successful Sedona, Arizona anterior to nan convention meetings astatine an adults resort, wherever they were photographed sunbathing by a pool, in a basking tub, astatine a bar, and connected nan rooftop of a bungalow holding hands and embracing.
Both Vrabel and Russini, who is besides married, denied immoderate wrongdoing. The coach called nan thought "laughable."
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No 1 was laughing whenThe Athletic launched an investigation into its reporter’s behavior, which led to her resignation, and Vrabel was forced to speak pinch his family, Patriots' ownership and his players astir nan trip.
Head coach Mike Vrabel of nan New England Patriots speaks pinch backmost Drake Maye during nan crippled against nan Las Vegas Raiders astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough, Mass., connected Sept. 7, 2025. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
He said to reporters astir nan business connected Tuesday, making his first nationalist comments astir nan matter.
Vrabel didn’t explicate what happened and didn’t admit aliases contradict thing astir his narration pinch Russini.
But he admitted talking pinch nan group he values has been hard.
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"I've had immoderate difficult conversations pinch group that I attraction about, pinch my family, nan organization, nan coaches, nan players," he said.
It seems nan difficult conversations are not over.
Armando Salguero is OutKick's Senior NFL Writer.
