Patriots' Mike Vrabel Breaks Silence After Dianna Russini Controversy
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke in public for the first time since controversial photos were published of him and NFL insider Dianna Russini.
"I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about: my family, the organization, the coaches, the players," Vrabel, 50, told reporters on Tuesday, April 21. "Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of distraction."
He continued, "The comments and questions that I've answered for the team and with the team, I'm going to keep those private to ourselves. I care deeply about this football team and I'm excited to coach them. I also know that I'm going to attack each day with humility and focus. What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward."
Vrabel did not mention Russini, 43, or the ongoing scandal specifically. The coach also did not mention his wife of 26 years, Jen, by name.
Tuesday's remarks by Vrabel kicked off with a message of gratitude for the reporters who gathered for the press conference.
"Let me first begin by saying thank you," Vrabel said. "Thank you for your patience that you've shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you. I respect that and I appreciate your efforts in doing so."
He added, "I understand that I could have addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday very candidly as we began our offseason program."
Vrabel explained he was motivated to speak on Tuesday to not leave the scandal hanging over the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh.
The Patriots coach and Russini, formerly of The Athletic, were seen together in photos published by Page Six earlier this month. The pictures, taken last month at a luxury resort in Arizona, showed the pair with their hands interlinked, sunbathing by a pool and sharing a hot tub.
Russini, who has been married to her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, since 2020, submitted her letter of resignation to The Athletic on April 14.
"I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published," Russini said in a written statement shared via social media. "When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts."
She added, "Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept."
In statements shortly after the photos were released, both Vrabel and Russini dismissed that their relationship was anything other than professional.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 10:08 AM.