Coach Mike Vrabel was back at work with the Patriots on Monday, according to a team source. Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images
After missing Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend to be with his family, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel returned to work on Monday, according to a team source.
Vrabel announced last week that he was going to miss the final day of the draft Saturday, which encompasses Rounds 4 through 7, amid ongoing questions about photos published by the New York Post showing him at an Arizona hotel hugging and holding hands with Dianna Russini, who was The Athletic’s senior NFL insider at the time. Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14. Additional photos of the pair have since emerged.
Last week, Vrabel didn’t rule out the possibility of missing additional time. But after spending the weekend outside of the office, Vrabel was back Monday.
The Patriots’ initial plan had been to potentially be in contact with Vrabel on Saturday as they made their picks, but executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said they ended up deciding against that.
“We kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away, so we were not in contact with Mike (on Saturday) other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK,’ kind of texts early this morning,” Wolf said after the draft was completed.
Wolf ran the team’s draft room while Vrabel was away and selected six players.
This week, Patriots players can attend optional workouts at the facility. Per league rules, head coaches aren’t allowed to be on the field putting the team through practices until organized team activities, which begin for the Patriots on May 27.
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle
Leave a Reply