Mike Vrabel Ditches Patriots’ Pre-Draft Press Conference Amid Diana Russini Controversy

Mike Vrabel won't face the reporters during the Patriots pre-draft press conference, instead GM Eliot Wolf will handle the proceedings.

Mike Vrabel Ditches Patriots’ Pre-Draft Press Conference Amid Diana Russini Controversy

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Mike Vrabel will not attend the New England Patriots' pre-draft press conference amid controversy.
  • Eliot Wolf will replace Vrabel at the press conference scheduled for April 12.
  • The controversy involves allegations of an extramarital affair with NFL insider Dianna Russini.

Mike Vrabel is skipping the New England Patriots’ pre-draft press conference. This news comes amidst allegations of an extramarital affair against Vrabel.

The 2026 NFL draft is scheduled to commence on April 23 and will conclude on April 25. It will decide the future of roughly 250+ college athletes.

Before the first day (or first round) of the draft, coaches face reporters and loosely discuss draft strategies and the players they may or may not target. Mike Vrabel won’t take part in this segment.

According to reports from ESPN and Front Office Sports, the 50-year-old is set to skip the pre-draft press conference. The Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf will replace him.

GMs handling the press conference is not an unprecedented arrangement. However, Vrabel’s withdrawal could be due to his recently unearthed scandal involving NFL insider Dianna Russini.

Cam Newton shares his views on the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal

On April 8, photos appeared on various social media platforms of two individuals holding hands and spending alleged intimate time together at a luxurious hotel in Arizona. After closely observing the photos, the football fraternity quickly recognized them as Vrabel and Russini.

Mike Vrabel Ditches Patriots' Pre-Draft Press Conference Amid Diana Russini Controversy
Mike Vrabel (Image via IMAGO)

The reason the photos have created such noise because both of them have been married for quite some time. Vrabel completed 25 years of his marriage, while Russini took her vows in 2020.

Initially, The Athletic, a unit of The New York Times where Russini works, downplayed the photos as nothing but a harmless interaction. However, their stance quickly changed in the wake of Russini’s old video, which surfaced playfully badmouthing her husband. The publication put Russini on hold indefinitely and launched an investigation to find out what really happened.

In the wake of the development, former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton shared his thoughts on the photos. Newton connected the dots by approaching the incident from a larger perspective. He called this the “Patriots way” because Vrabel is not the first Patriot to be involved in such a situation.

We are not saying that Mike Vrabel is right and Dianna Russini is wrong. What I am saying is fellas… You are cooked if your lady publicly disrespects you… Is this the Patriot way? Owner [Robert Kraft], player [Stefon Diggs], and the coach [Vrabel]… Robert Kraft is [expletive], he got his past in parlors.

Cam Newton ranted on the 4th & 1 podcast

In 2019, Kraft faced misdemeanor solicitation charges in Florida, which were later dropped due to the key evidence being deemed inadmissible. Even though several years have passed since the incident, it still haunts the Patriots’ veteran owner.

Mike Vrabel made a massive addition to the Patriots’ coaching department

Despite the ongoing negative PR surrounding Vrabel, the 50-year-old made a massive move on the defensive side of the team. According to Joseph Pasteris of the Boston media, the Patriots hired former New York Giants DC Shane Bowen as a defensive analyst. Bowen will work alongside Vrabel and Zak Kuhr, who was promoted to DC last year.

Bowen worked with Vrabel as the outside linebackers coach before taking over as the DC. The Patriots ranked as 8th best defense in 2025, allowing an average of 295.2 yards per game.

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