Vrabel Steps Away From Patriots Amid Fallout From Scandalous Resort Photos

It’s no laughing matter now.Hours before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel announced he is stepping away from the team indefinitely to seek counseling and be with his family. It’s the latest fallout from the publication of photographs showing Mr. Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an adults-only resort in Arizona earlier this month.Mr. Vrabel initially called the photos obtained by the New York Post “laughable,” but has since admitted to having had hard conversations with his family and is now leaving the team at a pivotal point on the NFL calendar. The NFL Draft runs through Saturday. Mr. Vrabel will be away from the team the entire day on Saturday for rounds 4 through 7 where the Patriots own eight picks, including two in the fourth round. While pre-draft reports focus on the potential first and second-rounds selections, it’s the latter rounds where clubs must do their best work to build a championship roster. Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party on February 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Anna Webber/Getty ImagesHis decision to skip the draft suggests his personal situation needs immediate attention. On Thursday, the Post released additional photos showing Mr. Vrabel and Ms. Russini “all over each other” at a bar in New York City in 2020. “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,” Mr. Vrabel said in a statement released to ESPN.“In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. 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.”Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will spearhead the entire draft for the Patriots along with vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden. It’s uncertain whether Mr. Vrabel will be available by telephone to offer any input on the selections.In addition, the Patriots offseason training program began this week and will likely continue next week without Mr. Vrabel, who took the Patriots to the Super Bowl last year in his first season in New England after winning three Super Bowls with the franchise as a player.The decision to step away from the team and seek counseling is stunning, given the timing and the initial dismissal of the photos. Published by the New York Post on April 7, the photos showed the coach and Ms. Russini holding hands, embracing and sunbathing by a pool at the adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona, before the NFL’s annual league meetings in Phoenix.The two, who are both married to other people with whom they have children, initially claimed their meeting was coincidental as they were there with friends.“These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Mr. Vrabel said. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”Within days, The Athletic announced it was investigating the matter, and Ms. Russini subsequently resigned from her high-profile job on April 14, stating, she had “no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”The Patriots, meanwhile, said Mr. Vrabel was conducting business as usual until he wasn’t.It became clear the situation was not laughable when Mr. Vrabel admitted on Tuesday that he had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff, team officials and players. Though he didn’t specifically mention Ms. Russini or the photos, it was clear what sparked his admission.“In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions,” he said. “That includes me.”Mr. Vrable plans to be with his wife Jennifer and his two sons somewhere outside of Massachusetts, according to ESPN. The Vrabels have been married since 1999 after meeting while both were student athletes at Ohio State University.“What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward,” he said.Ms. Russini has been married to Kevin Goldschmidt, an executive with Shake Shack, since 2020. They have two sons.

Vrabel Steps Away From Patriots Amid Fallout From Scandalous Resort Photos

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