The NFL considered several factors when scheduling its 2026 regular season opener with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and in choosing the New England Patriots as their opponent, league executives insist the drama surrounding the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal played no role in their choice.
So yes, the league would have us believe that it has not seriously weighed the large elephant in the room.
“Look, we focused on the football game and the scope of the Super Bowl, and that alone is an incredible story,” NFL executive vice president Hans Schroeder said Friday during a league conference call.
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)
THE CHARGERS TROLL PATRIOTS ON THE VRABEL-RUSSINI SCANDAL IN THE VIDEO OF THE CALENDAR RELEASE
Schroeder noted that the NFL has failed to address the lasting drama that has become a shadow over the Patriots this offseason following the release of photos showing their head coach spending time with the former The Athletic reporter holding hands and kissing on the roof of a private bungalow at a Sedona, Arizona resort.
These photos and others that followed ultimately led Russini to resign from his job, deleting all of his social media accounts, Vrabel being repeatedly questioned at press conferences and missing the final day of the April draft in order to spend time with his family in Utah and get “advice.”
“How can we deliver the best game in the best window?” said Schroeder, describing the NFL’s thinking about hosting a Super Bowl rematch as a kickoff game. “And in this case, I felt like this rematch was going to be the most exciting when we could start it off the beaten path.
“…We liked the idea of really celebrating the Seahawks, giving them a moment to start this year to celebrate their senior year. And so we like the idea of opening on NBC on Wednesday, and really using that as an opportunity to celebrate the rematch, but to celebrate Seattle specifically.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Seattle Seahawks game against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
This, by the way, is consistent with the hands-off manner in which the NFL has viewed the entire Vrabel-Russini scandal. The league said early on that Vrabel was not subject to the personal conduct policy because of the photos and rumors they created.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the NFL Draft that it was a club thing for the Patriots to handle.
But while the league refuses to get involved in any way (perhaps rightly so), other clubs aren’t looking away and neither are fans.
FANS ROAST PATRIOTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY SALVATION IN LIGHT OF VRABEL-RUSSINI SCANDAL
It’s worth noting that the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings referenced the relationship between the coach and former reporter in their schedule release videos Thursday night, with the Chargers attracting a lot of attention around the league for their decision.
The Patriots themselves had a somewhat embarrassing time on their own social media account when they posted a Mother’s Day greeting on Sunday.
Some fans in replies to this post pointed out, often colorfully, the apparent disconnect between a team that uplifts moms while its coach may have emotionally hurt the mother of his children.
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And these things are unlikely to stop.
The Patriots are past the draft and schedule release, and players are expected to give their opinions on their coach in press conferences. It’s also unlikely that Vrabel will continue to be questioned on the matter assuming no new photos or revelations become newsworthy.
But the Patriots will play preseason games and play nine regular season away games in 2026. These will give opposing fans the opportunity to parody the New England coach and the team by extension on the situation.
Unlike the NFL, opposing fans may not only focus on football when they think of the Patriots.
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