Mike Vrabel breaks silence on Diana Russini saga at Patriots press

Mike Vrabel addressed the Diana Russini case in person for the first time Tuesday as the New England Patriots began media availability during their offseason conditioning program.

For starters: No, he didn’t admit or deny anything.

There was an underlying note of remorse. But there was no excuse for anything.

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Yes, too late

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. They’ve been positive and productive,” Vrabel told reporters at the start of his first press conference since the saga and the photos attached to it became public.

“We believe that to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. It starts with me. I never want our actions to negatively impact the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction.”

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona by an unknown person who sold the photos to the New York Post, which published them on Page Six.

The photos of the head coach and the NFL reporter sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub and on the roof of a bungalow, holding hands and embracing, caused an uproar throughout the league. Russini, the subject of an investigation by her employer The Athletic, resigned as a result.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel shouts during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (Ashley Landis/AP)

Athletics’ investigation into the matter is ongoing.

The NFL does not intend at this time to initiate an investigation into the matter as a possible violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. And the Patriots intend to keep the conversations between Vrabel and owner Robert Kraft and the players as private as possible.

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Although both Russini and Vrabel released statements claiming there was no wrongdoing and saying other people were present when they were together, neither had spoken publicly about the issue — until Vrabel did.

The two-week delay in addressing the matter prompted Vrabel to open his statement by addressing New England-area reporters who cover the team on a daily basis.

“Let me start by saying thank you,” the coach said. “Thank you for your patience in a personal and private matter for me and obviously everyone involved. I know it’s not easy for you and I respect that and I appreciate your efforts to do so.

“I understand that I could have trusted you sooner, but it was important for me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very frankly, as we started our offseason program, which everyone is excited to be a part of.”

Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California on February 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Vrabel said the club’s vice president of media relations and communications, Stacey James, pointed out to him that the players were scheduled to speak with reporters Tuesday afternoon. And it would enable those players to address their head coach’s situation with a female reporter before the coach did.

That helped force Vrabel’s hand.

“It was never my intention to have them talk to you or approach you until I did,” Vrabel said. “And so I asked him to come in today and talk to you.

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“You know, I also don’t want to take away from our, you know, the draft, the weekend of the draft. This is an important time for us, our organization and the excitement and joy that the players that we’re going to bring onto our football team.

“They are starting a fantastic journey that should be celebrated as we welcome them to our team.”