Patriots coach Mike Vrabel breaks silence on Dianna Russini photos that led to 'difficult conversations'

Mike Vrabel addressed nan Diana Russini matter successful personification for nan first clip connected Tuesday, arsenic nan New England Patriots began media availabilities during their offseason conditioning program.

To begin: No, he didn’t admit aliases contradict anything.

There was an underlying reside of contrition. But location was nary apology astir anything.

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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)

Yeah, excessively late

"I've had immoderate difficult conversations pinch group that I attraction about, pinch my family, nan organization, nan coaches, nan players. Those person been affirmative and productive, " Vrabel told reporters astatine nan commencement of his first property convention since nan saga and photos attached to it became public.

"We judge successful bid to beryllium successful connected and disconnected nan field, you person to make a bully decisions. That includes me. That starts pinch me. I ne'er want our actions to negatively impact nan team. We ne'er want to beryllium nan origin of a distraction."

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together astatine a Sedona, Arizona backstage edifice by an chartless personification who sold nan photos to nan New York Post, which published them connected Page Six.

The photos of nan caput coach and NFL newsman sunbathing by a pool, successful a basking tub, and connected nan tile of a bungalow holding hands and embracing caused a league-wide uproar. Russini, nan taxable of an investigation by her employer The Athletic, resigned arsenic a result.

New England Patriots caput coach Mike Vrabel yells during nan first half of nan AFC Championship NFL shot crippled against nan Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver. (Ashley Landis/AP)

The Athletic’s investigation into nan matter is ongoing.

The NFL has no volition of currently starting an investigation into nan matter arsenic a imaginable usurpation of nan Personal Conduct Policy. And nan Patriots intend to support nan conversations betwixt Vrabel and proprietor Robert Kraft and nan players arsenic backstage arsenic possible.

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Although some Russini and Vrabel released statements claiming nary wrong-doing and said different group were coming erstwhile they were together, neither had spoken publically astir nan rumor – until Vrabel did.

The two-week hold successful addressing nan matter caused Vrabel to unfastened his connection by addressing New England area reporters who screen nan squad connected a regular basis.

"Let maine first statesman by saying convey you," nan coach said. "Thank you for your patience, that you've shown successful a individual and backstage matter for me, and evidently everybody involved. I cognize that that's not easy for you, and I respect that, and I admit your efforts successful doing so.

"I understand I could have, you know, trusted you guys sooner, but it was important to maine to person a speech pinch nan players, which I did yesterday, very candidly, arsenic we began our offseason program, which everyone is excited to beryllium a portion of."

Dianna Russini attends nan 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party astatine Pier 48 successful San Francisco, California, connected Feb. 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Vrabel said that nine vice president of media relations and connection Stacey James pointed retired to him that players were scheduled to speak to reporters connected Tuesday afternoon. And that would put those players successful a position to reside their caput coach’s business pinch a female newsman earlier nan coach did.

That helped unit Vrabel’s hand.

"It was ne'er my volition to person them speak to you aliases reside you earlier I did," Vrabel said. "And truthful I asked him to travel successful coming and to talk pinch you.

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"You know, I besides don't want to return distant from our, you know, nan draft, the play of nan draft. This is an important clip for us, our statement and nan excitement and nan joyousness that those players are going to person that we bring onto our shot team.

"They're starting an astonishing journey, 1 that should beryllium celebrated arsenic we invited them onto our team."