The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal is the NFL offseason storyline that just won’t go away.
Seemingly every day there’s a new twist in the situation, but what’s grabbed everyone’s attention recently is what New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said about what happened.
“We’re here for coach,” Maye said. “We love coach, what he does for us, what he’s done for us this past year — you can’t speak into words. Just thankful he’s our head coach, and we know he’s doing some stuff off the field and out of the coaching world, but we’re here for him and I know he’s going to come back.”
Vrabel left the Patriots on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft to attend counseling amid his infidelity scandal, and the 50-year-old coach has been dodgy with the media, which has frustrated some because of the perceived lack of accountability.
Maye Getting Blasted Online Over Vrabel Support
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and QB Drake Maye
While on one hand Maye gave a politically correct, Patriots PR-curated answer everyone expected him to give, his words just seemed to rub the masses the wrong way.
It’s tough to blame the 23-year-old QB for supporting his head coach during a time when Vrabel’s privacy has been seemingly nonexistent. But NFL fans on social media didn’t appreciate the fact that his words essentially painted Vrabel as the victim in this situation.
“He cheated on his wife with a reporter, he’s not suffering a life threatening illness,” one fan wrote.
“The way Drake Maye is talking, is as if Mike Vrabel is somehow a victim…Good lord this situation is pathetic,” scoffed another.
“Is Vrabel battling cancer or getting caught f—— a reporter?” a third fan asked.
“They’re acting like he had a family member die or something. Dude was caught cheating on his wife for 6 + years lmao,” remarked one user.
“Drake Maye supports cheating on your wife,” another user replied.
“I wonder how Drake’s wife feels about her husband supporting a cheater lol,” a third user questioned.
“He didn’t have cancer…. he was caught being a low integrity POS and cheating on his family. If that’s the type of coach and leader you want… no wonder you got blown out in the super bowl. Patriots are new Cowboys.. best days are over,” one fan exclaimed.
“Coach is a sociopath and a liar who did whatever he wanted even if it meant blowing up two families and costing a woman her career. Can we stop acting like he’s a victim?” another fan wrote.
Vrabel’s Patriots Future Could be in Jeopardy
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and QB Drake Maye
The NFL has already disclosed it will not investigate Vrabel’s relationship with Russini, and it doesn’t seem likely the Patriots will conduct an investigation of their own either.
“This is not a personal conduct policy, as we know it today. It’s a personal matter, and we’ll leave it at that,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently said. “… I think the teams handle these matters when they’re personal matters. And they have a lot more information that can benefit everyone involved.”
But just because the league isn’t taking any actions, that doesn’t mean there may not be some sort of repercussions for Vrabel.
Two weeks ago, it didn’t even seem like a question of whether or not Vrabel would be the Patriots head coach come Week 1 — but now that may not be so set in stone.
According to Kalshi, Vrabel’s chances of keeping his job sit around 77% — down from the 99% it was not long ago. Conversely, prediction market Polymarket has Vrabel’s chances of being fired as Patriots coach by Dec. 31 of this year at 26%.
While betting markets and sportsbooks don’t necessarily reflect what’s going on internally within the Patriots’ organization, Vrabel’s job security is now at least a discussion after Russini resigned from The Athletic weeks ago.
Drake Maye Facing Heavy Backlash Over Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Comments