NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel attempted to walk the “fine line” he said is in place after his running back, TreVeyon Henderson, appeared to defend anti-LGBTQ comments made by former Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey on Monday.
The Bulls fired Ivey on Monday due to conduct detrimental to the team following a video he posted claiming the NBA was celebrating “injustice” by recognizing and embracing Pride Month.
Henderson tweeted Ivey’s video, which has now gone viral, and responded with a Bible verse.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Henderson quoted Matthew 5:10.
Reporters asked Vrabel about Henderson’s post on Tuesday.
“I think there’s a fine line. I want to tell you that I love TreVeyon,” he said. “I love the person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family, his wife, the people in our building. And so I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heart and in their mind, but we also want to make sure that they are educated. And we want to be inclusive.
PATRIOTS STAR APPEARS TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR FORMER BULLS PLAYER AFTER ROTATION AGAINST NBA PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION
“Everything we want to do [is] Provide an environment where people want to feel comfortable, but also share their personal beliefs. And then we also represent the team. And we represent the organization.”
Vrabel received a follow-up question, asking if he would speak to Henderson or the team about what happened on social media. He responded by saying, “I usually try,” though he noted, “(We’ll never) tell them how to feel.”
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026. (Darren Yamashita/Image Images)
“We certainly want to make sure that they understand that their actions represent something more than themselves,” Vrabel added. “And so I think there’s a line. We’re always talking about that kind of stuff. We’re trying to educate them, no different than me or you or my kids.”
Henderson is coming off his rookie season with the Patriots, racking up 911 rushing yards with nine touchdowns, helping New England reach the Super Bowl. Henderson had just four starts under his belt in Vrabel’s first year at the helm, as Rhamondre Stevenson was also a key figure in the Patriots’ backfield.
Ivey has been posting similar rant videos in recent weeks, as the 24-year-old has noted in the past that he deals with depression.
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” Ivey said in his latest video. “They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Join us in Pride Month to celebrate injustice.’ They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Injustice. So how can one not speak fairly? Who are they to say this man is crazy?”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches before an NFL preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Ivey also claimed in a separate video that Catholicism was a false religion.
