NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has revealed his stance on the scandal surrounding New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini.
The pair became embroiled in controversy earlier this month when the New York Post published suggestive photos of them fraternizing at a $2,500-a-night retreat in Sedona, Arizona. The Post later released other pictures, ostensibly showing Vrabel and Russini enjoying breakfast together.
Then on Thursday, exclusive photos from the New York Post purportedly showed Vrabel, then coach of the Tennessee Titans, at the now-closed Tribeca Tavern in New York with Russini, who was working for ESPN and covering the team at the time.
Later in the day, just hours before the 2026 NFL Draft began, Vrabel addressed the media and issued a groveling apology to his family following the claims that he had an affair with Russini.
Understandably, Goodell was quizzed on the matter later in the evening and offered a coy response on the matter, when speaking to ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.
Greenberg initially asked: ‘I’m going to ask you about the situation with Mike Vrabel and the Patriots. He has announced that he will not be with the team on Saturday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has revealed his stance on the ongoing scandal surrounding New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini
Russini and Vrabel were pictured together at a lavish resort in Arizona earlier this month
‘He’ll be instead with his family and plans to seek counseling. The league has suggested that this is not a violation of the personal conduct policy.
‘I want to make sure that I’m getting that exactly right. As of this point, based on what you know right now, this does not feel like a situation for the league to become involved in?’
Goodell replied: ‘No, this is not a personal conduct policy, as we know it today. It’s a personal matter, and we’ll leave it at that.’
However, Greenberg did not leave it at that.
‘Is that the kind of thing that typically you would talk with a team about?’ Greenberg asked. ‘The Patriots seem to be handling that. I think a lot of fans would be wondering what, if any role, the NFL would have with something like that.’
‘I think the teams handle these matters when they’re personal matters,’ Goodell explained. ‘And they have a lot more information that can benefit everyone involved.’
On Wednesday, Vrabel revealed he would be seeking counseling and announced he won’t be with the Patriots for Day 3 of this year’s NFL Draft on Saturday.
In his full address to the media on Thursday, Vrabel said: ‘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 issued a groveling apology to his family just before the NFL Draft got underway on Thursday night following claims he had an affair with reporter Russini
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, for over two decades and they have two children
‘My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t. What I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to give them what I told them I’d give them, which the best version of me, and that’s what we’re going to do.
‘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.’
Vrabel has been married to his wife Jen since 1999. Russini, meanwhile, tied the knot with husband Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020. Both couples have two children.
Other than describing the Post’s story as ‘laughable’ in an initial brief statement, Vrabel had been silent on the matter until ostensibly making himself accountable to the public at a Tuesday press conference.
Asked about his initial ‘laughable’ comment, Vrabel replied: ‘I think that was, you know, always an attempt to protect your family and I would never be dismissive.
‘But I think my family and this football team are the most important thing, and that’s what I plan to do, and I’m excited about the challenge with both of those things.’
He told reporters at the Patriots’ return to practice earlier this week he’d had ‘difficult conversations with people I care about – with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players’ in the wake of the scandal.
Dianna Russini married fast food executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020 during the pandemic
Patriots’ billionaire owner Robert Kraft said they are fully supportive of Vrabel on Thursday
Vrabel and Russini have both denied any wrongdoing while insisting the photos of them hugging and hanging poolside are misleading.
Russini was ultimately placed on leave and investigated by The Athletic’s parent company, The New York Times, only to resign from her position last week.
In their own statement on Thursday night, the Patriots said: ‘We fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.
‘We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process.
‘While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.’
