Drake Maye speaks out on Mike Vrabel after Dianna…
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said he’s “here for” Mike Vrabel, who’s “doing some stuff off the field and out of the coaching world” in the wake of the top coach’s scandalous relationship with former Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini.
Maye, getting into his second season under Vrabel after reaching Super Bowl 2026 in February, was requested about the matter while at an event for Best Buddies, a non-profit for serving to those with mental and developmental disabilities (IDD), in Massachusetts on Wednesday.
“We’re here for coach,” Maye, 23, told 7News’ Jonathan Hall. “We love coach — what he does for us, what he’s accomplished for us this past 12 months, you possibly can’t communicate into phrases.
“Just thankful he’s our head coach. I 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 gonna come back.”
It got here after Page Six broke the story and revealed pictures on April 7 exhibiting Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, holding palms while at a resort in Arizona last month.
Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel, and NFL reporter Dianna Russini at Ambiente Sedona resort in Arizona on Saturday, March 28, 2026. © Page Six
Other pictures confirmed the pair hugging on a non-public deck and speaking while sitting in a sizzling tub together.
Vrabel addressed the state of affairs with reporters forward of the 2026 NFL Draft and said he mentioned it in-house with his gamers.
When the pictures had been revealed, both downplayed the photographs in statements, with Vrabel calling them “laughable,” and Russini including that “the photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel speaks at the workforce facility in Foxborough, Mass., prior to the start of the NFL soccer draft on Thursday, April 23, 2026. AP
The Athletic initially backed Russini before opening an inside investigation by the New York Times, which owns the sports activities outlet, that is presently ongoing.
Russini — who has two younger sons with her husband, Shake Shack govt Kevin Goldschmidt — resigned from The Athletic on April 14.
Dianna Russini attends FanDuel’s Super Bowl Party Powered by Spotify on February 7, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images for FanDuel’s Super Bowl Party Powered by Spotify!
Page Six revealed more pictures of Vrabel Russini on April 23, showing to show the pair kissing while at a Tribeca Tavern in Manhattan in March of 2020 — when he was teaching for the Tennessee Titans and she was an NFL insider at ESPN.
Steven Ginsberg, the manager editor at The Athletic, said in an all-hands assembly with his workers on Wednesday that the continued investigation by The Athletic‘s editorial director for requirements and editorial high quality Mike Semel, is anticipated to be prolonged.
Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini at Tribeca Tavern on March 11, 2020. © Page Six
He added that communication might have been clearer with his workers.
The Patriots have stood by Vrabel and supported him as he skipped Day 3 of the draft to search “counseling” and focus on himself.
While addressing the matter forward of the draft, Vrabel told reporters that it’s a “personal and private matter” and that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about.”
He described the conversations as “positive and productive.”
Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots throws a cross during the third quarter of Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. Getty Images
The coach, who has two sons with his spouse Jen, didn’t reference Russini or the scandal straight.
Vrabel also obtained a standing ovation from Patriots season ticket holders at an event on Tuesday.
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