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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 was prominent Tuesday.
Tight end Hunter Henry is obviously aware of the current situation with Vrabel, who spent the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft away from the team seeking advice amid the Russini controversy.
But Henry and the rest of the Patriots are trying to focus on football as much as possible.
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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 want to hear everything that’s going on, but to be honest with you, we’re just focused,” he told reporters Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports. “I’m focused on what we’re doing right now in this building with this team.
Henry, the team’s captain, added that he’s “just focusing on the guys in this locker room and trying to build it from the ground up.” In other words, he won’t comment on his head coach’s off-field controversy.
Fellow captain Robert Spillane was also asked about Vrabel’s situation, but he echoed Henry’s sentiment.
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“Coach coaches the football. He keeps the main thing going,” Spillane said, according to MassLive. “I know he has personal problems. But when we’re in the building. We talk football.”
Although Spillane wasn’t going to comment on others’ relationship with Vrabel, he noted that he “would be there to support him” because he believes his coach would do the same.
Vrabel has spoken publicly about the Russini controversy and noted during his statement that he had spoken with players.
“I think he did a great job,” Henry said of how Vrabel handled the situation when it came to light. “That’s the same Vrabes that brought a lot of energy into the room, so, I mean, obviously, he talked about it. That’s kind of what I’m going to say about it.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stands on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on January 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
The Patriots released a statement ahead of 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 follow through on that commitment,” the statement read.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our staff throughout this preliminary process.”
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Vrabel was with the Patriots for the first two nights of the draft, but he stepped away during rounds 4-7 to seek advice.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I would give them the best version of me that I could give them,” Vrabel said in a statement, according to ESPN.
“To do that, I’ve committed to seeking advice starting this weekend. It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to and it’s something I would advise a player to do if I were advising them.”
Vrabel also told reporters he had “difficult conversations with people I care about” about 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 pictured in a split composite image showing Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)
Since then, photos from 2020 have surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a New York bar. The photos obtained exclusively by the New York Post were taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.
“They were kissing and they were on top of each other,” an eyewitness told the outlet. “He wore a ring.”
Russini reportedly married Kevin Goldschmidt, her husband and a 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 sons. In the photos, Vrabel’s wedding ring is visible on his left hand as he converses with Russini. At the time, Russini worked for ESPN, while Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans.
Last month, Vrabel and the former The Athletic reporter were seen holding hands and kissing at a luxury resort in Arizona. 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)
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The photos showed the two men sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub and on the roof of a bungalow, holding hands and embracing, which caused a league-wide uproar. Russini, who is under investigation by his employer, The Athletic, resigned as a result.
Vrabel has since returned to the Patriots as they continue their offseason training program. The team’s rookie minicamp is also scheduled for May 8-10.
