Mike Vrabel stepping away from Patriots indefinitely to seek counseling amid Dianna Russini controversy

New England Patriots manager Mike Vrabel, embroiled successful a contention involving his narration with erstwhile NFL newsman Dianna Russini, is stepping distant from the squad indefinitely to question counseling and beryllium with his family.

The news, archetypal reported by ESPN, means Vrabel volition miss portion of the NFL Draft that begins connected Thursday and runs done Saturday. Vrabel volition beryllium distant from the squad the full time connected Saturday.

Saturday is the time the NFL Draft volition behaviour rounds 4 done 7. The Patriots presently ain 8 picks successful those rounds, including 2 successful the 4th round.

New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel celebrates aft the AFC title crippled against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field At Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Club enforcement vice president of subordinate unit Eliot Wolf volition beryllium orchestrating the full draught for the Patriots on with vice president of subordinate unit Ryan Cowden. Even if Vrabel is disposable by telephone for input, it evidently won't beryllium the aforesaid for the Patriots arsenic it was successful the 2025 draft, the coach's archetypal with the team.

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"As I said the different day, I promised my family, this enactment and this squad that I was going to springiness them the champion mentation of maine that I tin perchance springiness them," Vrabel said successful a connection released to ESPN.

"In bid to bash 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 bash if I was counseling them.

"I person ever wanted to pb by example, and I judge this is what I person to bash to beryllium the champion husband, begetter and manager that I perchance tin be. This is not an casual happening for maine to admit, but it is 1 that I cognize volition marque maine a amended person. I admit the enactment that everyone has fixed maine and committedness a stronger resoluteness arsenic a result."

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New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel speaks to reporters astatine the NFL yearly meetings successful Phoenix connected March 31, 2026. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

While it whitethorn look similar this is bully quality due to the fact that Vrabel evidently sees a occupation helium needs to address, the timing of his separation from the squad suggests the concern is dire and needs contiguous attraction careless of the NFL calendar.

It should beryllium noted the Patriots besides conscionable started their offseason programme this week and that volition proceed adjacent week, perchance without Vrabel.

The counseling is seemingly a measurement Vrabel is taking to amended himself but besides prevention his marriage.

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Vrabel plans to beryllium with 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 with a travel to Italy. The mates met portion some were student-athletes astatine Ohio State University. 

It’s been a unsmooth period for Vrabel, albeit due to the fact that helium brought it upon himself.

Days aft returning from the NFL yearly gathering successful Phoenix connected March 31, Vrabel was contacted by the New York Post seeking remark connected the information the insubstantial was successful possession of seemingly compromising photos of the manager and Russini, who worked for The Athletic astatine the clip arsenic an NFL reporter.

The manager and newsman spent clip unneurotic successful Sedona, Arizona anterior to the league meetings astatine an adults resort, wherever they were photographed sunbathing by a pool, successful a blistery tub, astatine a bar, and connected the rooftop of a bungalow holding hands and embracing.

Both Vrabel and Russini, who is besides married, denied immoderate wrongdoing. The manager called the thought "laughable."

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No 1 was laughing whenThe Athletic launched an probe into its reporter’s behavior, which led to her resignation, and Vrabel was forced to talk with his family, Patriots' ownership and his players astir the trip.

Head manager Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots speaks with backmost Drake Maye during the crippled against the Las Vegas Raiders astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough, Mass., connected Sept. 7, 2025. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

He spoke to reporters astir the concern connected Tuesday, making his archetypal nationalist comments astir the matter.

Vrabel didn’t explicate what happened and didn’t admit oregon contradict thing astir his narration with Russini.

But helium admitted talking with the radical helium values has been hard.

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"I've had immoderate hard conversations with radical that I attraction about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players," helium said.

It seems the hard conversations are not over.