Mike Vrabel has publicly addressed reports about his personal life for the first time after photographs showed him with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona. Speaking at a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the New England Patriots head coach described the situation as a “personal and private matter”.
“I understand I could have addressed you sooner, but it was important to me I have a conversation with the players,” he said, adding that he had spoken “very candidly” with them.
Vrabel also said he had held “some difficult conversations” with people he “care[s] about”, including his family and members of the organisation, describing those discussions as “positive and productive”.
The 50-year-old said leadership required accountability. “We believe in order to be successful, you have to make good decisions,” he said. “That starts with me. You never want your actions to negatively affect the team … or be the cause of a distraction.”
He added that he “deeply” cares about the Patriots and is “excited” to continue coaching with “humility and focus”.
“What I can promise you is my family, this organisation, this team, the staff, the coaches and the fans most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward,” he said.
Images published earlier this month showed Vrabel and Russini holding hands and embracing at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Both had initially downplayed the significance of the photographs.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel said at the time, adding that the matter did not warrant further response.
Russini said the images did not reflect the wider context, stating that a group of six people had been present and that NFL reporters often interact with sources outside formal settings.
Following publication of the images, The Athletic sidelined Russini and opened an investigation. On Tuesday, she announced her resignation from the outlet.
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires,” she wrote in a resignation letter.
“I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career,” she added.
The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, confirmed her departure, saying new questions had emerged during the investigation, which was ongoing at the time of her resignation.
A spokesperson for the New England Patriots said Vrabel had not missed any scheduled media appearances, adding that executive Eliot Wolf had been set to lead an earlier pre-draft press conference.
Wolf said it was “business as usual”, noting that Vrabel had remained involved with team activities and player evaluations.