What Mike Vrabel said about NFL draft leave of absence amid Dianna Russini rumors
· Yahoo Sports
Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel addressed local media in New England prior to the start of the NFL draft on April 23 to discuss his leave of absence from the New England Patriots in the shadow of rumors and images flying featuring Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini in compromising positions.
Vrabel will not be in the Patriots' draft room on Saturday, April 25 for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as he seeks counseling, he and the Patriots announced late on the evening of April 22. Earlier on the afternoon of April 23, the Patriots put out a statement supporting Vrabel in his efforts to emphasize his family and personal life.
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More images of Vrabel and a woman have been released by TMZ and the New York Post on April 22 and 23.
"I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people I care most about," Vrabel said. "My previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to. What I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and the football team, is to work through this together. That's going to start, that has started, that'll continue this weekend and that'll continue for however long that takes for me to complete that promise of me giving them the best version of me possible."
Vrabel went on to say that his priorities are his family and the Patriots, in that order, and there's a balance he's going to create. He's confident in the people in the Patriots' organization to handle the draft while he's away.
When Vrabel was asked whether he'll miss any further Patriots activities beyond the draft, he said he can't ensure anything.
"I'm not sure what's going to be needed of me," Vrabel said.
Speaking on ESPN prior to the NFL draft, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the situation is a "personal matter" and left it at that.
Mike Vrabel, the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots and the Dianna Russini situation
Vrabel coached the Titans from 2018-23, leading the franchise to three playoff berths and two AFC South titles. He was the NFL's Coach of the Year in 2021 for leading the Titans to the No. 1 seed in the AFC despite setting an NFL record for most players used in the course of a regular season. He was fired following the 2023 season, ending his tenure on a sour note by losing 18 of his final 24 games.
The Patriots hired Vrabel in January 2025 and the results were immediate, turning a last-place team into AFC champions in just one season and earning his second NFL Coach of the Year honor.
Images of Vrabel and Russini holding hands, dancing and seated together in a hot tub at an Arizona resort first surfaced following the NFL league meetings in April. Russini resigned from her job as national NFL insider for The Athletic shortly thereafter, but more images of Vrabel with a woman reportedly dating back as far as 2020 when Vrabel still worked for the Titans have continued to come out. Vrabel addressed the rumors speaking with local Boston media on April 21, saying he preferred to keep what he said to the team private but acknowledging that everyone within the organization needs to be held to the standard of making better decisions.
The Titans replaced Vrabel with coach Brian Callahan, who was fired early in his second season after winning only four games. The Titans have since hired coach Robert Saleh to lead the organization, who heads into his first offseason as Titans coach.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mike Vrabel addresses Dianna Russini situation, NFL draft leave of absence