Patriots Players Asked About Mike Vrabel Situation

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel rejoined his team on Monday as he returned from counseling over the weekend.

Vrabel left the team on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling due to the highly-publicized scandal involving NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Earlier this month, photos surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini holding hands and embracing at a luxury resort in Arizona. And on Day 1 of the NFL draft, several new photos dating all the way back to 2020 emerged.

Vrabel and Russini are both married to other people.

Two Patriots veterans, linebacker Robert Spillane and tight end Hunter Henry, were asked about the situation during their media availability on Tuesday.

“Coach coaches football and he keeps the main thing, the main thing,” Spillane said, via ProFootballTalk. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues, but when we’re in the building, we speak football.”

Vrabel addressed the situation with his team for the first time early last week. Henry said the New England coach did “a great job” of keeping them in the loop.

“Obviously I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on,” Henry said. “To be honest with you, I’m focused on what we got going on right now in this building, with this team. Obviously had a long season last year, quick turnaround into the offseason, we’re in a new building.

"And every year is a new year, so we’re trying to build this team, we’re trying to come together, so I’m just focused on the guys in this locker room, and trying to build it from the ground up again. We have a long journey ahead of us; we have to start somewhere, so we’re starting right now.”

Russini announced her resignation as lead NFL reporter for The Athletic in the wake of this scandal. As of right now, Vrabel remains the Patriots' head coach as the Super Bowl runners-up approach the 2026 NFL season.