Patriots coach Mike Vrabel to seek counseling, miss Day 3 of 2026 NFL Draft

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as he begins to seek counseling, he revealed on Wednesday, April 22. Vrabel did not divulge the nature of the assistance he was pursuing. His statement comes one day after he said he had held "difficult conversations" with his family and members of the Patriots organization in the aftermath of photos of him and Dianna Russini , The Athletic's former NFL insider, first surfacing.

"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said, according to ESPN . "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.

"I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.

" In his first public remarks to the media, Vrabel did not answer questions about Russini, with whom he was photographed on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, ahead of the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix. The New York Post on April 7 published pictures of Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, hugging and lounging poolside in bathing suits. Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, maintaining that “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published.