Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Misses Draft Day 3 for Personal Counseling

Coach Mike Vrabel will be absent for the final day of the NFL Draft, a decision made to focus on personal matters and counseling.
By Newsroom | Sports, NFL |

HEAD COACH COMMITS TO COUNSELING, WILL BE AWAY FROM TEAM'S FINAL SELECTIONS

Mike Vrabel, head coach of the New England Patriots, has announced he will not be present for the third day of the NFL draft on Saturday, April 24, 2026. This absence, Rounds 4-7 of the draft, coincides with Vrabel's commitment to begin seeking personal counseling.

Vrabel stated his decision stems from a desire to be the "best version" of himself for his family, the organization, and the team. He indicated the counseling would commence over the weekend.

FAMILY AND ORGANIZATION RECEIVE FOCUS

Vrabel plans to spend the weekend with his wife, Jen, and their two sons, away from Massachusetts. This period of personal attention follows recent media coverage concerning photographs that surfaced earlier this month.

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The images, published by the New York Post and subsequently by other outlets like Page Six, depicted Vrabel and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini embracing and interacting at a resort in Arizona. Both individuals are married to other partners.

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DRAFT OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED

During Vrabel's absence on Saturday, the Patriots' draft strategy will be managed by Eliot Wolf, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, and Ryan Cowden, Vice President of Player Personnel. Vrabel, however, is expected to remain in contact with the team remotely throughout the day.

In his initial public remarks on Wednesday, April 22, Vrabel addressed the situation. While acknowledging "difficult conversations" with his family and the Patriots organization in the wake of the published photos, he largely refrained from answering direct questions about Russini. He reiterated his commitment to the team and stated, "We never want our actions to negatively affect the team."

BACKGROUND

The reporting on Vrabel's situation emerged following the publication of photos showing him and Russini at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, prior to the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix. The initial wave of photos appeared on April 7, with further images released on April 22. Vrabel's public statement regarding his personal life and his decision to seek counseling came on April 23.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why will Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel miss the third day of the NFL Draft on April 24, 2026?
Coach Vrabel announced he will be away to attend personal counseling sessions. He wants to be the best version of himself for his family and the team.
Q: Who will manage the Patriots' draft selections on April 24, 2026?
Eliot Wolf, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, and Ryan Cowden, Vice President of Player Personnel, will lead the draft operations. Coach Vrabel is expected to stay in touch remotely.
Q: What led to Coach Vrabel's decision to seek counseling?
Photos were recently published showing Vrabel with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a resort. Vrabel stated he has had difficult conversations with his family and the team about the situation.
Q: Will Coach Vrabel be completely unavailable during the draft on April 24, 2026?
While he will not be physically present for Rounds 4-7, Coach Vrabel plans to remain in contact with the team's personnel remotely throughout the day.