Patriots' Vrabel won't address NFL draft before controversy

Head coach Mike Vrabel will not hold a pre-draft press conference amid recent photos with reporter Dianna Russini.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:43pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a football game or NFL draft event, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape representing the complex dynamics at play.The controversy surrounding Patriots coach Mike Vrabel's relationship with a reporter casts a shadow over the team's preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft.Phoenix Today

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be addressing the media ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, despite the typical pre-draft press conference. This decision comes in the wake of recently published photos showing Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini together at an Arizona resort, sparking controversy.

Why it matters

Vrabel's decision not to speak publicly before the draft is unusual, as head coaches typically provide insight and commentary leading up to the event. The photos of Vrabel and Russini have raised questions about their relationship and the potential impact on Vrabel's standing with the team and the league.

The details

An offseason team schedule shows that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will be conducting the Patriots' pre-draft press conference on April 13, a change from 2025 when Vrabel held the event. This shift comes after photos surfaced of Vrabel and Russini, an NFL insider for The Athletic, together at an Arizona resort prior to the league's annual meeting.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place on April 23.
  • The photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken at an Arizona resort in March, just before the NFL's annual league meeting from March 29 to April 1.

The players

Mike Vrabel

The 50-year-old head coach of the New England Patriots, who has been embroiled in controversy after photos surfaced of him with reporter Dianna Russini.

Dianna Russini

A 43-year-old NFL insider for The Athletic, who previously worked for ESPN and covered Vrabel when he was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023.

Eliot Wolf

The executive vice president of player personnel for the New England Patriots, who will be conducting the team's pre-draft press conference on April 13.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

— Mike Vrabel, Head Coach, New England Patriots

What’s next

The Patriots' pre-draft press conference with Eliot Wolf is scheduled for April 13, and the team's plans for Vrabel's participation in the draft process remain unclear.

The takeaway

Vrabel's decision to avoid addressing the media before the NFL Draft raises questions about the impact of the controversy surrounding his relationship with reporter Dianna Russini, and whether it will affect his standing with the team and the league.