The NFL considered several factors in scheduling its 2026 home opener with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and in choosing the New England Patriots as the opponent, league executives insist the drama surrounding the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal played no role in their selection.
So yeah, the league would have us believe it didn’t really weigh the big elephant in the room.
“Look, we focused on the game of football and the reach of the Super Bowl, and that alone is an incredible story,” NFL Executive Vice President Hans Schroeder said Friday during a league conference call.
Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite photo with Russini holding an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Images)
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Schroeder pointed out that the NFL did not consider the ongoing drama that has cast a shadow over the Patriots this offseason after the release of photos showing their head coach spending time with the former reporter for The Athletic, holding hands and embracing on the roof of a private bungalow at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
Those photos and others that followed eventually led to Russini resigning from his job, deleting all of his social media accounts, Vrabel being asked about it multiple times in press conferences, and missing the final day of April’s draft to spend time with his family in Utah and get “counseling.”
“How do we deliver the best game in the best window?” Schroeder said, outlining the NFL’s thoughts on setting a Super Bowl rematch as the kickoff. “And in this case, it felt like the rematch is going to be the most exciting when you can start it out of the box.
“…We liked the idea of really celebrating the Seahawks and giving them a moment to start this year to celebrate their last year. And then we like the idea of opening on NBC on Wednesday and really using it as a chance to celebrate the rematch, but celebrate Seattle specifically.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Incidentally, this falls in line with the hands-off approach the NFL has taken to the entire Vrabel-Russini scandal. The league said early on that Vrabel was not subject to the personal conduct policy as a result of the photos and the rumors they created.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the NFL Draft that it was a club matter for the Patriots to handle.
But while the league refuses to get involved in any way (perhaps rightly so), other clubs aren’t looking away, and neither are fans.
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It should be noted that both the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings referenced the relationship between the coach and the former reporter in their program release videos Thursday night, with the Chargers receiving significant attention around the league for their move.
The Patriots themselves suffered somewhat of an embarrassing time on their own social media account when they posted a Mother’s Day greeting on Sunday.
Some fans in responses to that post pointed out, often in colorful ways, the apparent disconnect between a team that lifts up mothers while its coach may have emotionally hurt the mother of his children.
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And this is unlikely to stop.
The Patriots are past the draft and program release, and players are being asked their opinion of their coach in press conferences. It’s also unlikely that Vrabel will continue to be asked about the issue, assuming no new photos or revelations become newsworthy.
But the Patriots will play preseason games and have nine regular-season road games in 2026. These will allow opposing fans to spoof the New England coach and, by extension, the team about the situation.
Unlike the NFL, opposing fans may not be solely focused on football when they think of the Patriots.
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