Everything Mike Vrabel said about the Dianna Russini controversy

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - Mike Vrabel addressed reporters on Tuesday for the first time since Page Six published numerous photos of the New England Patriots head coach with Dianna Russini, a former reporter at The Athletic, at a luxury resort in Arizona at the time of the Annual League Meetings. The photos showed the two embracing and holding hands, and the fallout led to Russini resigning from her role at The Athletic. Outside of Vrabel's initial statement to Page Six, he has stayed quiet.

But now, he has come out, providing a longer statement on the situation. Here's everything Mike Vrabel said: Mike Vrabel makes a statement regarding the incident involving Dianna Russini pic. twitter.

com/kWFB7ixp8p — Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) April 21, 2026 VRABEL: “Thank you for your patience that you’ve shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously everybody involved. I know that that’s not easy for you and I respect that and appreciate your efforts in doing so,” he began. I understand I could have addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly as we began our offseason program, which everyone is excited to be a part of.

Stacey had mentioned the players’ availability and it was never my intention to have them speak with you or address you before I did, so I asked him to come today and talk with you. I also don’t want to take away from the draft, the weekend of the draft. This is an important time for us, our organization, and the excitement and the joy that those players are going to have that we bring onto our football team, they are starting an amazing journey.