Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel to Seek Counseling After Dianna Russini Controversy

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will miss day three of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling after the Dianna Russini controversy.

16 days ago, photos surfaced of Vrabel and Russini hanging out at an adults-only hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The pictures were taken on March 28, one day before the NFL Annual League Meetings began in Phoenix.

Per ESPN's Mike Reiss, Vrabel announced on Wednesday night that he'll miss the third day of the NFL Draft to seek counseling. The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh begins on Thursday night and runs through Saturday.

Vrabel released the following statement, via Reiss:

"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. 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."

Reiss added that Vrabel will stay in touch with the front office while he's away on Saturday.

The two-time Coach of the Year has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999. Russini married Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020. Both couples have two sons.

Russini, who was employed by The Athletic, announced her resignation a week after the photos surfaced. The 43-year-old joined the outlet in August 2023 after an eight-year stint with ESPN.

New England Patriots Own 11 Draft Picks This Year

The Patriots own 11 total draft picks this weekend. Of course, that number could grow or decrease if the front office decides to make some trades over the three-day draft.

New England owns the Nos. 31, 63, 95 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212 and 247 picks. This will be the third draft for Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, who has hit home runs with draft picks like Drake Maye, TreVeyon Henderson and Jared Wilson.

Robert Kraft's Patriots are coming off a 14-3 season that culminated with a trip to Super Bowl 60. There, they fell 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks.

But over the next three days, the Pats will get the chance to bolster a deep roster that was one win away from a Super Bowl championship.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 1:15 AM.