New England Patriots Back Mike Vrabel as Personal Matters Surface During Draft Week

The New England Patriots have voiced their support for head coach Mike Vrabel as his personal circumstances capture attention during one of the NFL calendar's most prominent events: the annual NFL Draft.

The 2026 NFL Draft begins tonight and continues through Saturday. Vrabel has already made clear he will skip day three of the proceedings, citing his need to seek counseling.

The announcement follows the emergence of new photographs showing Vrabel alongside sportswriter Dianna Russini. The images include photos from 2020 that allegedly show the two kissing.

A Patriots representative shared a statement with 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."

Last month, photos surfaced of Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort, which both parties denied had any romantic context. Additional photographs have since become public, including the kissing images from 2020.

Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people.

A 2021 tweet from Russini mentioning her son "Michael" has also begun circulating on social media in connection with the ongoing situation.