Patriots Exec Says 'Business as Usual' for Mike Vrabel Ahead of NFL Draft

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been 'very involved' in draft preparations despite recent scrutiny over his relationship with a reporter.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:13pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of color and shape, conceptually representing the intricate relationships and competing interests at play in the world of professional football.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the complex dynamics between an NFL team and the media covering it during the high-stakes draft season.Phoenix Today

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been fully engaged in the team's draft preparations, according to a front office executive, despite recent scrutiny over the nature of his relationship with an NFL reporter. Vrabel did not attend the team's pre-draft news conference, but Patriots VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf said Vrabel has been 'very involved' and that it's 'business as usual' for the coach.

Why it matters

The Patriots are facing questions about Vrabel's relationship with reporter Dianna Russini after photos of the two together at an Arizona hotel surfaced. While both have downplayed the significance of the photos, the situation has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest or inappropriate relationships between team personnel and media members covering the league.

The details

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a Patriots player, is preparing for his second season as the team's head coach. He led the Patriots to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance last season. Despite the recent scrutiny, Vrabel has remained engaged in the team's draft preparations, with Wolf saying the coach has been 'in there with us' more this year than last.

  • The photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken in Arizona two weeks before the start of NFL owners meetings in Phoenix that began on March 29.
  • Vrabel spoke with reporters in a news conference setting before last year's draft but opted not to on Monday.

The players

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots who is preparing for his second season in that role. Vrabel previously won three Super Bowls as a player with the Patriots.

Eliot Wolf

The vice president of player personnel for the New England Patriots, who spoke about Vrabel's involvement in the team's draft preparations.

Dianna Russini

An NFL reporter for The Athletic who was photographed with Vrabel at an Arizona hotel, raising questions about the nature of their relationship.

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What they’re saying

“'Very involved. Business as usual. I'd say he's been in there with us this round probably a little more than he was in there last year. … He's been in there. He's been contributing. He's watched a ton of the players.'”

— Eliot Wolf, Patriots VP of Player Personnel

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

— Mike Vrabel

“'They don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.'”

— Dianna Russini

What’s next

The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, has reported that the digital outlet is investigating the conduct of reporter Dianna Russini in relation to the photos with Vrabel.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns that can arise when team personnel have close relationships with media members covering the league. While both Vrabel and Russini have downplayed the significance of the photos, the Patriots and The Athletic will need to thoroughly investigate the matter to ensure appropriate boundaries are maintained between the team and the press.