New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addressed “previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to” on Thursday evening after Page Six shared an image showed him kissing former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini about six years ago.
“I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about,” Vrabel told reporters, per Sleeper HQ’s Carlos A. Lopez. “My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t.”
MORE:Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini timeline, from photos to statements.
Vrabel’s Thursday comments come after word broke that he will not attend Saturday’s Patriots draft work to undergo counseling.
“My family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be,” Vrabel told reporters, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Vrabel’s mention of “previous actions” is the closest he’s gotten to addressing the scandal that started with photos of him cozying up to Russini at an Arizona hotel in March.
Some time after the Page Six report surfaced on Thursday, Russini deactivated her X (Twitter) account. She also resigned from her job at The Athletic last week.
A very somber #Patriots HC Mike Vrabel:
“I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people I care most about… My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t.”
(🎥 @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/FO3oPalSeT
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) April 23, 2026
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel speaking now, tells reporters: “My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to.”
He will be away from the team Saturday to begin therapy. “My family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be.”
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 23, 2026
Ahead of Thursady night’s first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, league commissioner Roger Goodell called the situation a personal matter for Vrabel, alluding there will not be an investigation on his conduct.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Vrabel breaks silence after Dianna Russini kissing photo leaks