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Another New England Patriots player supports his head coach.
Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was asked about Mike Vrabel’s controversial relationship with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini, and specifically what Vrabel said he talked to the team about.
Gonzalez did not mince words in his response.
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Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots looks on before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
“We will not talk about what we talked about inside the building,” Gonzalez told reporters. “But I mean, he’s my coach. He’s the reason I go out there and play for. He’s proven what he can do as a coach. He’s my guy, and I ride behind Vrabes any time of the day.”
Patriots captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane were also previously asked about Vrabel’s situation.
“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.”
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Henry added that he was “just focused on the guys in that 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.
Spillane echoed Henry’s sentiment.
“The coach coaches the football. He keeps the essentials, the essentials,” he explained, according to MassLive. “I know he has personal problems. But when we are in the building, we talk football.”
These Patriots are all on the same page with Vrabel despite the scandal that has created a football storm off the field.
Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots runs on the field before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The Patriots released a statement before the first round of the draft, 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 said.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our staff throughout this preliminary process.”
Vrabel was with the Patriots for the first two nights of the NFL Draft, but he stepped away from rounds four through seven to seek advice.
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)
“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.
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.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks with quarterback Drake Maye during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on October 19, 2025. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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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.
