‘We all have to deal’

The New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel opened up about his family life over a month after his scandal with reporter Dianna Russini.

During a press conference for the NFL team on Wednesday, May 27, Mike addressed questions about his personal life. After being about how he plans to “mitigate if not completely erase” distractions, like his recent scandal, Mike shared his true thoughts.

“We all have to deal with things outside of here,” the 50-year-old coach said. “My focus and the excitement I have for coaching is what is most important right now.”

Later in the press conference, Mike was asked about how he prepares to balance “family and football” ahead of the upcoming season.

“I appreciate — my family is great. I love Jen, I love the boys, I love, you know, my personal friends and you know, this spring is focused on really the coaching staff, the players,” he said, before quickly changing the subject to the Patriots’ spring training goals.

In the weeks following the scandal that took the sports world by surprise, Mike reiterated his love of his family. On April 21, the coach opened up about having “difficult conversations” with both his family and the Patriots. 

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“I understand I could’ve addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly,” he said during a press conference. “I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about. My family, this football team, the organization and the fans.”

A few days later, on April 23, in a statement to ESPN, Mike shared: “I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend.”

The coach, who has been married to his college sweetheart Jen Vrabel since 1999, has been focused on football and his family, including his sons Tyler, 25, and Carter, 24, ever since.

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Where is Dianna Russini after the scandal?

Dianna Russini, 43, was a little known sports journalist covering the NFL for The Athletic before April 2026, living with her husband Kevin Goldschmidt and two kids. But on April 7, photos of Dianna and Mike sharing a hug, some hand holding, and pool side lounging surfaced, and her world changed. 

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For her role in the photos, Dianna shared: “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” adding: “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

On April 15, the journalist resigned from her role at The Athletic, before the publication finalized their review of the situation. “Rather than allowing this [media frenzy] to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career,” Dianna wrote to X.