Mike Vrabel’s time in counseling was quite brief, it turns out.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Vrabel is already back at work with the New England Patriots. Vrabel is back with the team two days after he missed the third and final day of the NFL Draft in order to attend counseling. The Patriots coach made that decision in light of the emergence of numerous photos of himself with NFL reporter Dianna Russini, sparking rumors of an extramarital affair.
Social media reaction was swift. There were many sarcastic comments about how his brief trip to counseling had clearly solved everything, and a few insinuations that his temporary absence had been more performative than anything else.
He's cured! https://t.co/mrSfLbGfsB
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) April 27, 2026
Ah, so the performative contrition portion is over. Glad we got that out of the way. https://t.co/PQ1gXOwNW3
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) April 27, 2026
And just like that, I’m sure Mike Vrabel now knows it’s bad to have a 6-year-long affair with a married reporter.
— Eagles Fan Central (@PhilaFanCentral) April 27, 2026
What a redemption story. https://t.co/o3Y5Zeu6Y8
Quickest family counseling session in history. https://t.co/gYh4AbaLLm
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 27, 2026
Vrabel has not offered any real details on the nature of his counseling or the specific reason he is seeking it. He simply said he would miss a day of the draft in order to seek it, and that he was doing so in order to be a better husband, father, and coach.
The Patriots are scheduled to hold their rookie minicamp from May 8-10. Presumably, that will be the next time he might address the media.
