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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel tried to walk the “fine line” he said is in place after his running back, TreVeyon Henderson, appeared to defend the anti-LGBTQ comments made by former Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey on Monday.
The Bulls waived Ivey on Monday for conduct detrimental to the team after a video he posted in which he claimed the NBA was celebrating “injustice” by recognizing and embracing Pride Month.
Henderson tweeted the video of Ivey, which has now gone viral, and responded with a Bible verse.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Henderson quoted from Matthew 5:10.
Vrabel was asked about Henderson’s comments Tuesday by reporters.
“I think there’s a fine line. I want to tell you, I love TreVeyon,” he said. “I love the person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family, his wife, the people in our building. And so I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heart and in their mind, but also want to make sure they’re educated. And we want to be inclusive.
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“Everything we want to do [is] to create an environment where people want to feel comfortable, but also to share their personal beliefs. And then we also represent the team. And we represent the organization.”
Vrabel received a follow-up question asking if he wanted to talk to Henderson or the team about what happened on social media. He responded by saying, “I usually try,” though he noted, “(we’re) never going to tell them how to feel.”
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
“(We) definitely want to make sure they understand that their actions represent something more than just themselves,” Vrabel added. “And so I think there’s a line. We always talk about things like that. We try to raise them, no different than myself or you or my kids.”
Henderson starts his rookie season with the Patriots, amassing 911 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns, helping New England reach the Super Bowl. Henderson had just four starts under his belt in Vrabel’s first year leading the team, as Rhamondre Stevenson was also a key figure in the Patriots’ backfield.
Ivey has posted similar videos of rants in recent weeks, as the 24-year-old previously noted that he is dealing with depression.
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” Ivey said in his latest video. “They’re proclaiming Pride Month and the NBA. They’re proclaiming it. They’re showing it to the world. They’re saying, ‘Come join Pride Month to celebrate injustice.’
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Ivey also claimed in a separate video that Catholicism was a false religion.
