Patriots captains deflect questions about Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini controversy: 'We're just focused'

While absorption should beryllium connected the New England Patriots heading into the 2026 play looking for redemption aft a Super Bowl loss, the hot-button taxable of caput manager Mike Vrabel’s narration with ex-The Athletic newsman Dianna Russini was prevalent connected Tuesday.

Tight extremity Hunter Henry is evidently alert of the concern astatine manus with Vrabel, who spent Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft distant from the squad to question counseling amid the Russini controversy.

But Henry, and the remainder of the Patriots, are trying to absorption connected shot arsenic overmuch arsenic possible.

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Hunter Henry of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown during an NFL crippled against the Baltimore Ravens astatine M&T Bank Stadium successful Baltimore, Md., connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

"Obviously, you know, I cognize you guys privation to perceive astir everything that's going on, but to beryllium honorable with you, we're conscionable focused," helium told reporters connected Tuesday, per Yahoo Sports. "I'm focused connected what we got going connected close present successful this gathering with this team.

Henry, a squad captain, added that he’s "just focused connected the guys successful this locker country and trying to physique it from the crushed up." In different words, he’s not going to beryllium commenting connected his caput coach’s off-the-field controversy.

Fellow skipper Robert Spillane was besides asked astir Vrabel’s situation, but helium echoed Henry’s sentiment.

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"Coach coaches football. He keeps the main happening the main thing," Spillane said, per MassLive. "I cognize he’s dealing with idiosyncratic issues. But erstwhile we’re successful the building. We talk football."

While Spillane wasn’t going to remark connected others’ narration with Vrabel, helium did enactment that helium would "be present to enactment him" arsenic helium believes his manager would bash the same.

Vrabel spoke publically astir the Russini controversy, and helium noted during his connection that helium spoke with players.

"I thought helium did a large job," Henry said astir Vrabel’s handling of the concern erstwhile it came out. "It’s been the aforesaid Vrabes bringing a batch of vigor successful the room, so, I mean, obviously, helium addressed it. That’s benignant of what I’ll accidental astir it."

New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel stands connected the tract earlier the 2026 AFC Championship Game astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

The Patriots released a connection earlier the archetypal circular of the draught this past Thursday, saying they "fully support" Vrabel.

"Mike has been unfastened with america astir his committedness to being the champion mentation of himself for his family, this squad and our fans, and we respect the steps helium is taking to travel done connected that commitment," the connection read.

"We are assured successful the enactment and connection Mike has established with our unit unit passim this pre-draft process." 

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Vrabel was with the Patriots for the archetypal 2 nights of the draft, but helium stepped distant for rounds 4-7 to question counseling.

"As I said the different day, I promised my family, this enactment and this squad that I was going to springiness them the champion mentation of maine that I tin perchance springiness them," Vrabel said successful a statement, per ESPN. 

"In bid to bash so, I person committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is thing that I person fixed a batch of thought to and is thing I would counsel a subordinate to bash if I was counseling them."

Vrabel besides told reporters he’s had "some hard conversations with radical that I attraction about" regarding him and Russini being photographed unneurotic astatine a Sedona, Arizona, private edifice successful his archetypal nationalist comments astir the arguable relationship. 

Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown successful a divided composite representation featuring Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel connected the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)

Since then, photos person surfaced from 2020 showing Vrabel and Russini kissing astatine a barroom successful New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken successful the aboriginal hours of March 11, 2020. 

"They were kissing, and they were each implicit each other," an eyewitness told the outlet. "He had a ringing on."

Russini reportedly joined Kevin Goldschmidt, her hubby and a Shake Shack executive, six months aft the photos were snapped. Goldschmidt and Russini besides stock 2 children. 

Vrabel has been joined to his wife, Jen, since 1999, and they stock 2 sons together. In the pictures, Vrabel’s wedding set is disposable connected his near manus portion conversing with Russini. At the time, Russini was with ESPN, portion Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans.

 This past month, Vrabel and the erstwhile The Athletic newsman were seen holding hands and hugging astatine the luxury edifice successful Arizona. Photos of their intimate enactment were archetypal released successful April.

New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel speaks during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting astatine the Arizona Biltmore successful Phoenix, Ariz., connected March 31, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

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 The photos showed the 2 sunbathing by a pool, successful a blistery tub and connected the extortion of a bungalow holding hands and embracing, which caused a league-wide uproar. Russini, the taxable of an probe by her employer, The Athletic, resigned arsenic a result. 

Vrabel has since returned to the Patriots arsenic they proceed their offseason workout program. The team’s rookie minicamp is besides slated for May 8-10.

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