Mike Vrabel admits 'difficult conversations' about Russini photos with family, team

• Vrabel stated he'd had "difficult conversations" with his family and the team.
• The coach had not addressed the situation since providing a comment to the New York Post on April 8.
• Vrabel chose to address reporters Tuesday so Patriots players wouldn't have to speak for him.

For the first time since pictures of him with Dianna Russini, The Athletic's former NFL insider, surfaced, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel met with reporters.

"I've had some difficult conversations with people I care about about − with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players," Vrabel said as part of an opening statement on April 21, a full two weeks after the New York Post published the photos.

"Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. You never want to be the cause of a distraction.

"What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody − our fans, most importantly − will get the best version of me going forward."

Vrabel thanked local reporters for their patience amid his silence, calling the episode a "personal and private matter."

He also stated, "It was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday − very candidly."

Vrabel said he chose to speak Tuesday because he didn't want Patriots players to be asked questions about him before he had addressed them or the media. He also didn't want to detract from the attention on the NFL draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh. The Patriots are scheduled to pick 31st overall on Thursday night.

Asked about any recent conversations with Robert Kraft and team ownership, Vrabel declined to elaborate, choosing to keep those discussions confidential.

Will NFL discipline Mike Vrabel?

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday that Vrabel is not under investigation for any violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

According to that policy, as it pertains to non-NFL players, "Conduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others associated with the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL."

The photos, published April 7, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.

What did Mike Vrabel say about Dianna Russini?

Russini left The Athletic, which is owned by the New York Times, posting a defiant letter to social media April 14. Her behavior was under internal investigation prior to her abrupt departure.

Asked about Russini directly Tuesday, Vrabel responded: “I respect and I appreciate every single question, but I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.”

The coach also addressed the reaction within his locker room amid the start of the reigning AFC champions' offseason program.

“I’ve had conversations and questions," Vrabel said regarding his players. "Yeah, I’ve addressed that and talked to them. Tell them all the time, we have to speak for ourselves, and what they have to say on it is what they’ll have to say.

"These guys are off to a really good start. It’s been a really good two days, but that was how we started the offseason program – a conversation I had with them."

2026 NFL MOCK DRAFT: What Dexter Lawrence trade might mean for Giants, first round

Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023 before leading the Patriots, the team with which he won three Lombardi Trophies as a linebacker in the 2000s, to a berth in Super Bowl 60 last season. Russini covered him in Nashville and New England.

During last week's pre-NFL draft news conference, Pats vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said of Vrabel's role preparing for the draft that he had been, "Very involved. Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year."

Prior to Tuesday, Vrabel had not said anything aside from a comment provided to the Post on April 8.

"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel said at the time.

"This doesn’t deserve any further response."

Vrabel was asked Tuesday to respond to that response.

“I appreciate the question," he said. "I’m going to focus on our football team. I think I’ve addressed what I felt like was important."

All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.