New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has announced he will take an indefinite leave of absence to seek counseling, missing Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as he addresses personal matters following the publication of photos showing him with former NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Vrabel revealed his decision on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, stating he is pursuing help to be “the best husband, father, and coach he can possibly be.” The move comes one day after he acknowledged having “challenging conversations” with his family and Patriots organization members in the wake of the photo controversy.
According to Vrabel’s statement reported by ESPN and USA TODAY, he committed to seeking counseling starting the weekend of April 22-23, 2026, emphasizing that this step is necessary to fulfill his promise to his family, the organization, and the team to provide his best self.
The photographs in question, first published by the New York Post on April 7, 2026, showed Vrabel and Russini hugging and lounging poolside in bathing suits at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona. The images were taken ahead of the NFL’s annual league meeting in Phoenix.
Vrabel, who was appointed head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025 after previous stints with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, did not address questions about Russini during his first public remarks to the media following the announcement.
The Patriots organization has not released additional details about the nature of Vrabel’s counseling or the expected duration of his leave. His absence means he will not be present for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, which began on April 24, 2026.
Vrabel’s coaching record with the Patriots stands at 0-0 as he begins his second season with the franchise, following a tenure that included two NFL Coach of the Year awards (2021, 2025) during his time with the Tennessee Titans.
As of the announcement, no further updates have been provided regarding Vrabel’s return to team activities or the specific focus of his counseling efforts.
The situation remains developing, with the Patriots expected to provide official updates through their standard communication channels when available.
For continued coverage of this story and other NFL developments, readers are encouraged to follow official team announcements and verified sports news sources.
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