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Amidst the backdrop of a recent photo leak, Mike Vrabel addressed eager audiences at the 2026 NFL Draft. The images, published by Page Six, depicted Vrabel sharing an intimate moment with sports journalist Dianna Russini at a New York City bar, a scene captured six years prior.
At the time the March 2020 photographs were taken, Vrabel was still married to his wife, Jen Vrabel. Earlier this week, the New England Patriots coach announced he would be taking a temporary break, following another set of images that surfaced showing him and Russini sharing a tender moment at an Arizona resort in March.
“I have made a promise to my family, this organization, and my team to be the best version of myself,” Vrabel, now 50, shared with ESPN.
He further explained, “To fulfill this promise, I am committed to beginning counseling this weekend. It’s a decision I’ve considered thoroughly and one I would recommend to any player under similar circumstances.”
While Vrabel assured he would remain in communication with the Patriots’ team, he confirmed that he would be absent from Day 3 of the NFL Draft, set to take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, over the weekend.
Instead, he would be outside of Massachusetts with his college sweetheart, whom he wed in 1999, and their two sons.
In light of the news, the Patriots released the following 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 [football executive] Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
The Patriots hold 11 selections and have the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Earlier this week, Mike appeared at a pre-draft presser at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where he finally broke his silence on the recent headlines.
He spoke about the “difficult conversations” he’d had with his family, calling the talks “positive and productive.”
The retired outside linebacker vowed to bring his loved ones — as well as his colleagues and players — the “best version” of himself “going forward.”
He added, “In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me.”
Mike dodged questions about the scandal after his speech, telling press, “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.”
When photos of Mike and Russini, 43, first surfaced on April 7, the latter claimed, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
She subsequently resigned from the New York Times’ the Athletic, writing in her resignation letter, “I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Vrabel, for his part, insisted, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
The two claimed they were with friends, although multiple eyewitnesses told us otherwise.
Page Six released additional pictures on Wednesday of Vrabel and Russini having breakfast at the luxury Arizona hotel.
As for the 2020 photos published Thursday, Vrabel — in addition to appearing to kiss Russini — sat close to the reporter at the Tribeca Tavern bar with his hand on her leg and arm.
Russini was six months shy of walking down the aisle with then-fiancé Kevin Goldschmidt at the time, with whom she now shares two sons.
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” a source told us. “They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly.”
Reps for Vrabel and Russini have yet to comment on the latest headline-making snaps.