Mike Vrabel reportedly back at work with Patriots after missing Day 3 of NFL Draft

"Last night, we kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away."

Mike Vrabel was reportedly back in Foxborough on Monday. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe

April 27, 2026 | 5:53 PM

2 minutes to read

After missing Day 3 of the NFL Draft to attend counseling with his family, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is back at Gillette Stadium and working, per MassLive’s Karen Guregian and NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry.

Vrabel, who was present for Rounds 1-3 of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday and Friday, announced last week that he would not be with the team for Rounds 4-7 on Saturday in order to spend time with his family.

Vrabel first announced that he was seeking counseling late Wednesday night amid controversy over photos published by the New York Post across several weeks that featured the Patriots head coach with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.

Last Thursday, a new wave of photos released by the New York Post’s gossip column, Page Six, showed Vrabel appearing to kiss Russini at a New York bar in March 2020.

Later that same evening, Vrabel addressed the media in Foxborough for the second time in under a week — acknowledging that he had failed to meet the standard he sets for himself.

“I want to address the news regarding my current situation,” Vrabel said. “I understand that there are questions, but I take accountability for my actions, and the actions that have caused a distraction to the people I care most about: My family, this football team, the organization, and our fans.

“My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t,” he added. “And 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 is the best version of me. That’s what we’re going to do.

Vrabel also acknowledged that he was taking some time away from the team on Saturday to be with his family.

“My priorities are my family, and this football team, and in that order,” Vrabel explained. “There’s a balance there that I am going to create, and my family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be. But I’m confident in the people that we have. I’m confident in the preparation [for the draft].”

New England ultimately drafted six players during Day 3 of the NFL Draft: cornerback Karon Prunty, offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover, linebacker Namdi Obiazor, quarterback Behren Morton, running back Jam Miller, and edge rusher Quintayvious Hutchins.

The Patriots also signed several undrafted free agents, including former Harvard offensive lineman Jacob Rizy, TCU cornerback Channing Canada, and Central Florida running back Myles Montgomery.

Speaking late Saturday night, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters the team didn’t have contact with Vrabel on Saturday during the final day of the draft.

“Last night, we kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away,” Wolf said. “So we were not in contact with Mike today other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK’ kind of texts early this morning.”