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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel attempted to walk the “fine line” he said was in place after his running back, TreVeyon Henderson, apparently defended anti-LGBTQ comments made by former Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey on Monday.
The Bulls waived Ivey on Monday due to conduct detrimental to the team following a video he posted in which he claimed the NBA was celebrating “injustice” by recognizing and embracing Pride Month.
Henderson tweeted Ivey’s video, which has now gone viral, and responded with a Bible verse.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches the first half of the AFC NFL Championship football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Henderson quoted Matthew 5:10.
Vrabel was asked about Henderson’s message by reporters Tuesday.
“I think there’s a fine line. I want to tell you I love TreVeyon,” he said. “I love this person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family, his wife, the people in our building. And so I want them to be able to express what they believe in their hearts and in their minds, but I also want to make sure they’re educated. And we want to be inclusive.
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“All we want to do [is] providing an environment in which people want to feel comfortable, but also share their personal beliefs. And then also, we represent the team. And we represent the organization.
Vrabel received a follow-up question asking if he would speak to Henderson or the team about what happened on social media. He responded by saying, “I usually try to,” while noting, “(We’re) never going to tell them how they feel.”
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
“(We) certainly want to make sure they understand that their actions represent something more than just themselves,” Vrabel added. “And so I think there’s a limit. We always talk about this stuff. We try to educate them, no different than me or you or my kids.”
Henderson just finished his rookie season with the Patriots, racking up 911 rushing yards with nine touchdowns, helping New England advance to the Super Bowl. Henderson only had four starts under his belt during Vrabel’s first year in charge of the team, as Rhamondre Stevenson was also a key figure in the Patriots backfield.
Ivey has posted similar videos with rants in recent weeks, as the 24-year-old noted in the past he suffered from depression.
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right? Ivey said in his latest video. “They’re proclaiming Pride Month and the NBA. They’re proclaiming it. They’re showing it to the world. They’re saying, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate injustice.’ They proclaim it. They proclaim it on billboards. They proclaim in the streets. Injustice. So how come we cannot speak with justice? Who are they to say this man is crazy? »
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on before an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Ivey also claimed in a separate video that Catholicism is a false religion.
