The New England Patriots are determined to stand by head coach Mike Vrabel over the Dianna Russini scandal, but an NFL Insider has claimed the organization have a limit in how much more they will take.
Pictures emerged this week of Vrabel and a pregnant Russini getting a boat together in Tennessee in June 2021 in the latest instalment of the saga, which began back in April when they were pictured holding hands at an adults-only resort in Arizona.
After fiercely denying claims they were having an affair, more pictures and video have come to light that appear to show the opposite. They were even pictured appearing to get intimate at a bar in New York in 2020, over six years ago.
Russini resigned from her role as an NFL reporter at The Athletic, insisting she had done nothing wrong and would not allow the situation to define her. Vrabel, at a Patriots press conference, simply vowed to be a better husband, father and head coach for his team and has since begun counseling.
Vrabel's position in New England seems extremely secure, despite his humiliation - he led the team to the Super Bowl in 2025. But respected insider Albert Breer believes if more revelations come out about Vrabel involving other women, the organization might think differently about him.
'I would say at this point it is definitely not in their plans (to get rid of Vrabel),' Breer told 98.5 Sports Hub. 'I think if you look at the actions of Kraft Sports, it's been a month since the photos came out, almost everything has been done in order to protect his employment, protect the team's image.'
'If it's just continued drips and drabs that continue to fill in the blanks of what we sort of already know, then I think the Patriots just ride it out.'
'What could be worse, I think it would have to be more women coming out, you know, or there being some sort of breach of trust within the organization where Mike Vrabel was serving his relationship here over the team in certain ways.'
'It would have to go to a different level. This story has very clearly crossed the rubicon from sports story into celebrity gossip... that's a totally different world.'
There is no suggestion that Vrabel has been involved with any other women or that the Patriots sense any trust has been breached. Although both initially denied cheating on their respective spouses, Vrabel has since apologized for his 'actions,' while stopping short of specifically admitting to an affair.
The married father of two adult sons briefly stepped away from the Patriots during April's NFL Draft to go through counseling with his family. Russini and her husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, were married in September 2020. Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999.
'I understand that there are questions, but 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 our fans,' Vrabel said prior to the first round of the NFL Draft.
'That's going to start, that has started, and that'll continue this weekend and it'll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible.'
'My priorities are my family and this football team - and in that order - and there's a balance there that I am going to create. My family needs me this weekend and that's where I'll be.'
The Russini-Vrabel fallout is still permeating the NFL and The Athletic, where she worked until her recent resignation. Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor at the website, finally addressed the matter during a late-April meeting with staff by admitting his messaging on the matter could have been better.
He also mentioned the investigation into Russini's journalism, which was previously reported by the Daily Mail and other outlets. That probe is being led by standards and editorial quality editor Mike Semel and it is expected to be lengthy, according to Front Office Sports.
It comes after Patriots quarterback Drake Maye doubled down on his defense of Vrabel amid reports of the affair. On Wednesday, Maye called Vrabel 'a great human being' and insisted he doesn't think his off-field problems will be a distraction this upcoming season.
'No, I don't,' Maye said on Wednesday following the Truist Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte, in which he was paired with PGA Tour pro Gary Woodland at Quail Hollow. 'I mean, he's our head coach. I think he's done a great job of talking to us and talking us through it. I'm just looking forward to getting back to work and getting ready.'
