Mike Vrabel is threatening to upstage the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
The Patriots coach spoke to the media just 40 minutes before the start of the draft as he dominated headlines on Thursday after Page Six published new photos of Vrabel and Dianna Russini kissing<\/a> at Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of March 11, 2020.<\/p>\n He discussed his decision to miss the final day of the draft<\/a> on Saturday for counseling.<\/p>\n \u201cMy pervious actions don\u2019t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don\u2019t,\u201d Vrabel told reporters. \u201cWhat I believe is best for the two most important things in my life \u2014 my family and this football team \u2014 is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to give them what I told them I\u2019d give them which is the best version of me and that\u2019s what we\u2019re gonna do.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s gonna start, it has started. That will continue this weekend and it will continue for however long it takes for me to give them and complete that promise, giving them the best version of me possible. That\u2019s what\u2019s gonna happen and that\u2019s what\u2019s been happening.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026My priorities are my family and this football team, and in that order. There is a balance there that I\u2019m going to create. My family needs me this weekend and that\u2019s where I\u2019ll be.\u201d<\/p>\n Mike Vrabel addressing reporters at the 2026 NFL Draft. YouTube\/@patriots<\/p>\n Vrabel said his intitial comments calling the photos \u201claughable\u201d were made to \u201cprotect his family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a private and personal matter,\u201d Vrabel said when asked about his change in tune over the last two weeks. \u201cI think that was an attempt to protect your family. I would never be dismissive, but I think my family and this football team are the most important thing. That\u2019s what I\u2019m gonna do and I\u2019m excited about the challenge with both of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow The Post\u2019s live updates from the 2026 NFL Draft with news, analysis and reaction.<\/a><\/p>\n In March 2020, Vrabel was coaching for the Titans and was already married to his wife, Jen, with whom he shares two sons. Russini was an NFL insider at ESPN at the time and tied the knot with Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt only six months later.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were kissing and they were all over each other,\u201d an eyewitness told Page Six. \u201cHe had a ring on.\u201d<\/p>\n