New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel finally addressed his controversial photos with former NFL insider Dianna Russini a few times during NFL Draft week. Now, fans have heard from Patriots players, including quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye didn’t specifically address the pictures scandal or Russini. But the quarterback offered support for Vrabel days after the head coach left the team to reportedly receive counseling.
“We’re here for coach,” Maye told 7News. “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.
“I know he’s dealing with some stuff off the field and out of the coaching world. We’re here for him, and I know he’s going to come back.”
Vrabel has only coached Maye for one season. But in that campaign, the quarterback finished one vote shy of winning the league MVP award.
The head coach and quarterback combination led the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Behind the AFC championship, Vrabel won the NFL’s coach of the year award.
This offseason, though, Vrabel is under fire in the biggest off-the-field NFL story this offseason.
On April 7, Page Six published photos of Vrabel and Russini at a luxurious resort hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The photos depicted the Patriots head coach and former NFL insider holding hands, hugging and lounging in a pool.
Vrabel first addressed the photos in front of the media on April 22. The following day, Page Six released another photo from Vrabel and Russini’s encounter in Sedona. The picture showed the two together having breakfast “alone”.
Then on April 24, just prior to the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, another new picture displayed the couple kissing at a bar in New York City during 2020.
Patriots’ Drake Maye Breaks Silence on Mike Vrabel Scandal