ESPN: Patriots coach Mike Vrabel to seek counseling, be away during Day 3 of NFL draft

Doug Kyed, Boston Herald on Apr 23, 2026

Published in Football

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Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will seek counseling and miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday, he told ESPN on Wednesday night.

Page 6 published photos of Vrabel embracing and holding hands with former Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini earlier this month.

He addressed the pictures on Tuesday, calling it a “personal and private matter.”

“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 ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “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.”

Vrabel will be with his family — he has two sons with his wife, Jen — this weekend outside of Massachusetts, he told Reiss. He will still be in contact with the Patriots on Day 3 of the draft during Rounds 4-7, and “expressed confidence in Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf and Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden to lead the draft room,” per Reiss.

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel said in his statement Tuesday prior to answering questions from reporters. “Those have been positive and productive. I believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me.”

Vrabel initially released a statement to Page 6, saying, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini resigned from The Athletic since the story emerged.

Eight of the Patriots’ 11 total draft picks will be made Saturday on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft. The Patriots have one pick in each of the first three rounds of the draft. The first round starts Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.