Mike Vrabel breaks silence on Diana Russini saga in Patriots press

Mike Vrabel addressed the Diana Russini issue in person for the first time Tuesday, when the New England Patriots began making themselves available to the media during their offseason conditioning program.

To start: No, he neither admitted nor denied anything.

But there was an underlying tone of contrition. But there was no apology for anything.

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yes, too late

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. They have been positive and productive,” Vrabel told reporters at the start of his first news conference since the saga and accompanying photos became public.

“We believe that to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. I never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction.”

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, by an unknown person who sold the photos to the New York Post, which published them on Page Six.

Photos of the NFL head coach and reporter sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub and on the roof of a bungalow holding hands and hugging caused a stir throughout the league. As a result, Russini, the subject of an investigation by his employer, The Athletic, resigned.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel yells during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (Ashley Landis/AP)

The Athletic’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.

The NFL has no intention of currently launching an investigation into the matter as a possible violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. And the Patriots intend to keep conversations between Vrabel, owner Robert Kraft and the players as private as possible.

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Although both Russini and Vrabel issued statements saying they had committed no crime and said there were other people present when they were together, neither had spoken publicly about the issue — until Vrabel did.

The two-week delay in addressing the matter prompted Vrabel to begin his statement by addressing New England-area reporters who cover the team daily.

“Let me start by thanking you,” the coach said. “Thank you for your patience, which you have shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously for everyone involved. I know that is not easy for you, I respect that and appreciate your efforts in doing so.

“I understand that I might have trusted you before, but it was important for 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.”

Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California on February 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Vrabel said the club’s vice president of communications and media relations, Stacey James, told him the players were scheduled to speak to reporters Tuesday afternoon. And that would put those players in a position to address their head coach’s situation with a reporter before the coach did.

That helped force Vrabel’s decision.

“It was never my intention for them to speak to you or address you before me,” Vrabel said. “And so I asked him to come today and talk to you.

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“You know, I also don’t want to take anything away from our, you know, the draft, draft weekend. This is an important moment for us, our organization and the excitement and the joy that those players that we’re bringing to our football team will have.

“They are beginning an incredible journey, one that should be celebrated as we welcome them to our team.”