NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
While the focus should be on the New England Patriots heading into the 2026 season looking for redemption after a Super Bowl loss, the hot topic of head coach Mike Vrabel’s relationship with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini prevailed Tuesday.
Tight end Hunter Henry is obviously aware of the situation at hand with Vrabel, who spent Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft away from the team to seek counseling amid the Russini controversy.
But Henry and the rest of the Patriots are trying to focus on football as much as possible.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Hunter Henry of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown during an NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 21, 2025. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“Obviously, you know, I know you guys want to hear everything that’s going on, but to be honest, we’re just focused,” he told reporters Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports. “I’m focused on what we’re going through right now in this building with this team.
Team captain Henry added that he is “just focusing on the guys in this locker room and trying to build it from the ground up.” In other words, he’s not going to comment on his head coach’s off-field controversy.
Fellow captain Robert Spillane was also asked about Vrabel’s situation, but echoed Henry’s sentiment.
ARE WE SURE THAT MIKE VRABEL WILL SURVIVE THE RUSSINI SCANDAL AND COACH THE PATRIOTS THIS SEASON?
“The coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing the main thing,” Spillane said, according to MassLive. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues. But when we’re in the building, we talk about football.”
While Spillane wasn’t going to comment on others’ relationship with Vrabel, he did note that he “would be here to support him” as he believes his coach would do the same.
Vrabel spoke publicly about the Russini controversy and noted during his statement that he spoke with the players.
“I think he did a great job,” Henry said of Vrabel’s handling of the situation when it came to light. “It’s been Vrabes himself who’s brought a lot of energy to the room, so obviously he addressed it. That’s pretty much what I’ll say about it.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on January 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Image Images)
The Patriots released a statement before the first round of the draft last Thursday, saying they “fully support” Vrabel.
“Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to fulfill that commitment,” the statement read.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our staff during this pre-draft process.”
JORDON HUDSON SHARES OLD POST ADDRESSED TO CRITICS AFTER BILL BELICHICK’S TUMULTUOUS FIRST SEASON AT UNC
Vrabel was with the Patriots for the first two nights of the draft, but left during rounds 4-7 to seek counseling.
“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 myself that I could give them,” Vrabel said in a statement, according to ESPN.
“To achieve this, I have committed to seeking counseling starting this weekend. This is something I have thought a lot about and is something I would recommend a player do if I were counseling them.”
Vrabel also told reporters that he’s had “some difficult conversations with people I care about” regarding him and Russini being photographed together at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, in his first public comments about the controversial relationship.
Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite image showing Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans bench wearing a headset. (Image images)
Since then, photos from 2020 have emerged showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a New York City bar. The photographs obtained exclusively by the New York Post were taken in the early morning hours of March 11, 2020.
“They were kissing and were on top of each other,” a witness told the outlet. “I had a ring on.”
Russini reportedly married Kevin Goldschmidt, her husband and Shake Shack executive, six months after the photos were taken. Goldschmidt and Russini also share two children.
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999 and they share two children. In the images, Vrabel’s wedding ring is seen on his left hand while he chats with Russini. At the time, Russini was at ESPN, while Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans.
Last month, Vrabel and the former Athletic reporter were seen holding hands and hugging at the luxury Arizona resort. Photos of their intimate interaction were first published in April.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during the 2026 NFL League Annual Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 31, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Photos showed the two sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub and on the roof of a bungalow holding hands and hugging each other, causing a stir throughout the league. As a result, Russini, the subject of an investigation by his employer, The Athletic, resigned.
Vrabel has since returned to the Patriots as they continue their offseason workout program. The team’s rookie minicamp is also scheduled for May 8-10.
