Patriots VP addresses Mike Vrabel NFL draft role after Dianna Russini photos

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Patriots VP addresses Mike Vrabel NFL draft role after Dianna Russini photos

Nate Davis, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Apr 13, 2026 ·

3 min read

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( UPDATE: Dianna Russini resigned her position as an NFL reporter at The Athletic on April 14.)

The first high-ranking member of the New England Patriots has now addressed Mike Vrabel's situation − sort of − nearly a week after photos of the club's head coach with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort were published by the New York Post .

Asked during the team's April 13 pre-draft news conference about Vrabel's involvement with player evaluations over the past week, Pats vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said: "Very involved. Business as usual. He's been in there with us a little more than he was last year."

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See Mike Vrabel’s journey from Patriots standout to NFL head coach

Mike Vrabel ’s career has taken him from standout player to head coach, with stops across multiple eras of the NFL.

See the moments that chart Vrabel’s path through the years and onto the sidelines.

Above, Mike Vrabel speaks as he is introduced as head coach of the New England Patriots during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

(Billie Weiss, Getty Images)

Linebacker Mike Vrabel #50 of the New England Patriots celebrates with this son after defeating the Carolina Panthers 32-29 inSuper Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
(Donald Miralle, Getty Images)

Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots poses for his 2005 NFL headshot at photo day in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(NFL Photos, NFL via Getty Images)

Mike Vrabel speaks as he is introduced as head coach of the New England Patriots during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Billie Weiss, Getty Images)

Line Backer Mike Vrabel #50 of the New England Patriots standing on the field looking on during the game against the Buffalo Bills at the Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Bills 21-11.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots reacts during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)

Linebacker Mike Vrabel #50 of the New England Patriots catches a two yard touchdown in the third quarter against cornerback Lito Sheppard #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida.
(Harry How, Getty Images)

New England Patriots line backer Mike Vrabel celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX 06 February 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, FL. The Patriots are leading 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Tony Fisher #40 of the Green Bay Packers runs the ball against Mike Vrabel #50 the New England Patriots during the second quarter on October 13, 2002, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 28-10.
(Douglas McFadd, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots celebrates with Stefon Diggs #8 after a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Elsa, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots looks on during training camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on August 13, 2025, in Eagan, Minnesota.
(David Berding, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots reacts against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Rich Storry, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots speaks with Drake Maye #10 prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on October 05, 2025, in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images)

Former player Mike Vrabel speaks during a New England Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony during halftime of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans looks on in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on November 19, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida.
(Courtney Culbreath, Getty Images)

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel runs on the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Wesley Hitt, Getty Images)

Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans talks with Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Justin Ford, Getty Images)

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans looks during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on September 17, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Johnnie Izquierdo, Getty Images)

And that was pretty much it.

Wolf didn't talk about Vrabel before he began taking questions, then only got one remotely acknowledging the controversy his coach currently finds swirling about him. Wolf mentioned Vrabel a handful of times but only in the context of his role in evaluating draft prospects for the reigning AFC champions.

Vrabel, who addressed reporters the week prior to last year's draft, did not do so Monday but was never scheduled to, either . He and Wolf met with the national media at this year's annual scouting combine. Vrabel also spoke to reporters at the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix on March 31, just days after he'd been photographed at a posh Arizona getaway with Russini, The Athletic's NFL insider, but before those pictures of them surfaced in The Post.

The photos, which were published on April 7, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before the league meeting. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.

"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the Post , which published the photos, in a statement last week.

"This doesn't deserve any further response."

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Dianna Russini, former 'The Athletic' reporter on and off the field

NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic on April 14, exactly one week after pictures of her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at a posh Arizona report were published by the New York Post . attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

(Anna Webber, Getty Images)

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is interviewed by Dianna Russini after the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec 25, 2025.
(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)

Dianna Russini attends FanDuel's Super Bowl Party Powered by Spotify on Feb. 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

(Jeff Schear, Getty Images for FanDuel's Super Bowl Party Powered by Spotify!)

Dianna Russini attends Chris Stapleton's Performance Live From The Fillmore New Orleans for SiriusXM and Pandora on Feb. 6, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

(Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Dianna Russini attends Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl party at the Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Feb. 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)

Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2022
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

ESPN reporter Dianna Russini at Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI Opening Night at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California, on Feb 7, 2022.

(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

ESPN sideline reporter Dianna Russini runs alongside DC Defenders safety Rahim Moore for an on field interview against the Seattle Dragons in the second quarter during a XFL football game at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8, 2020.

(Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

ESPN NFL Countdown analyst Dianna Russini poses during AFC practice at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida, on Jan. 23, 2020.

(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

ESPN's Dianna Russini photographed for (201) Magazine at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, N.J., on Aug. 24, 2020.

(Mitsu Yasukawa, Northjersey.com via USA TODAY Network)

ESPN radio sideline reporter Dianna Russini during the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Nov. 10, 2019.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

Dianna Russini attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles.

(Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images)

Dianna Russini attends Heroes at the ESPYS at City Market Social House on July 17, 2018 in Los Angeles.
(Rich Fury, Getty Images)

ESPN commentator Dianna Russini attends the BODY at The EPYS Pre-Party at Avalon Hollywood on July 11, 2017 in Los Angeles.

(Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images)

ESPN's Dianna Russini interviews Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets after the New York Jets beat the Buffalo Bills, 37-31, at New Era Field on Sept. 15, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York.

(Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images)

Vrabel will likely speak publicly during the NFL draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh , a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. That person was granted anonymity because the Patriots have not formally scheduled any news conferences during the draft. And New England , which holds the penultimate pick of the first round, might not even choose anyone on the first night if the team trades back from that 31st overall selection − the one organically conferred to the previous season's Super Bowl runner-up.

Vrabel, Wolf and VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden all addressed reporters at various points during the 2025 draft, Vrabel doing so on the night of the first round following the selection of former LSU left tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall selection.

Russini, who worked for the NBC affiliate in the Washington D.C. market and then ESPN prior to joining The Athletic in 2023 , covered Vrabel while he was the coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. Though she initially received a statement of support from The Athletic (also effectively the New York Times' sports section) after the release of the photos, her conduct is now being investigated by The Times . She won't be reporting in the interim. Her contract is set to expire on June 30.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Vrabel role addressed by Patriots VP after Dianna Russini photos

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