New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be with the team this weekend as they plot the future of the franchise at the 2026 NFL Draft.
“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, 50, said in a statement on Wednesday, April 22, according to ESPN. “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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, and the couple share sons Tyler, 25, and Carter, 24.
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The head coach “plans to be with his family this weekend outside of Massachusetts,” per ESPN.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23, culminating with rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday, April 25.
According to ESPN, Vrabel will “still be in contact” with the team on Saturday when the team has eight draft picks to make.
Us Weekly has reached out to the Patriots for comment.
Vrabel’s revelation comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding pictures of him and NFL insider Dianna Russini. In photos published by Page Six earlier this month, the pair could be seen sunbathing and sharing a hot tub at a luxury resort in Arizona.
Both Vrabel and Russini, 43, have called their relationship strictly platonic.
Vrabel spoke in public for the first time since the photos were published during a press conference in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, April 21.
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“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about: my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel told reporters. “Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of distraction.”
He continued, “The comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team, I’m going to keep those private to ourselves. I care deeply about this football team and I’m excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus. What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward.”
In the wake of the scandal, Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic on April 14. When asked about Russini’s resignation at the press conference, Vrabel pushed it aside.
“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,” he said. “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.”
