New England Patriots
“This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person.”
Mike Vrabel won’t be with the Patriots on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
April 23, 2026 | 7:16 AM
2 minutes to read
Mike Vrabel reportedly won’t be with the New England Patriots for the third and final day of the upcoming NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
In a statement to ESPN’s Mike Reiss late Wednesday night, Vrabel acknowledged that he intends to seek counseling and will be away from the Patriots this weekend.
Vrabel has faced plenty of controversy over the last few weeks after the New York Post published photos of New England’s head coach with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort earlier this winter.
“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,” Vrabel told Reiss Wednesday night. “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.”
According to Reiss, Vrabel — who has two sons with his wife, Jen — will be with his family this weekend outside of Massachusetts.
On Tuesday, Vrabel addressed the media for the first time since those photos of him and Russini were released by Page Six, the gossip arm of the New York Post.
As part of Vrabel’s extended statement delivered to the media at the Patriots’ new team facility in Foxborough, Vrabel acknowledged that he was going through a “personal and private matter” and had already gone through some “difficult conversations” with his family, team, and many others over the last few weeks.
The fallout from the release of those photos has continued to draw headlines over the last few weeks, with Russini announcing her resignation from The Athletic last week.
On Tuesday, Vrabel was asked about Russini’s resignation.
“I respect and I appreciate every single question, but I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that,” Vrabel said, per MassLive’s Mark Daniels. “I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.”
According to Reiss, Vrabel still plans to be “in contact” with the Patriots on Saturday — but “expressed confidence in executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden to lead the draft room.”
Day 3 figures to be a busy afternoon for New England, as the Patriots are currently slated to pick eight times on Saturday with two fourth-round picks (No. 125, No. 131), one fifth-round pick (No. 171), four six-round picks (No. 191, No. 198, No. 202, No. 212), and one seventh-round pick (No. 247).
New England also has a first-round pick (No. 31), a second-round pick (No. 63), and a third-round pick (No. 95).
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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