Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini Scandal: Patriots Release Statement

The New England Patriots are weighing in on the ongoing photo scandal involving head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

The football team shared the following in a statement to Page Six:

"The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel's decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team, and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.

We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete, and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend."

Vrabel and Russini were first spotted kissing at a bar in NYC six years ago, where they were "all over each other." Then, they were recently seen together in March at a luxury hotel in Arizona. Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, with whom he has two kids. Russini is married to Kevin Goldschmidt. They also have two children.

On Wednesday, the coach claimed he was in counseling. He's also opting out of Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday "to focus on family and personal matters."

Here's what Vrabel had to say to ESPN:

"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 were counseling them."

Russini has since resigned from her role as Senior NFL Insider at The Athletic, stating she would "step aside" before her contract expires on June 30 amid the department's review process.

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 5:29 PM.