Earlier this week, New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry and linebacker Robert Spillane were unable to avoid questions from media members regarding the ongoing controversy involving head coach Mike Vrabel and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Henry and Spillane both voiced support for Vrabel at the time. While speaking at an event on Wednesday evening, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was asked to comment on the biggest storyline that has hovered over the franchise throughout April.
Like his teammates, Maye spoke carefully about the subject.
Drake Maye, Patriots players will continue to support Mike Vrabel
“We’re here for coach,” Maye said, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, citing Jonathan Hall of 7News. “We love coach, what he does for us, what he’s done for us this past year — you can’t speak into words.”
This scandal began when photos surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini, who are married to other people, spending time together at an Arizona resort in late March. Not long after Russini resigned from her role of covering the NFL for The Athletic, new pictures were published showing her and Vrabel sharing a kiss and “sitting very close to each other” at a New York City bar in March 2020.
Vrabel spent the last day of the 2026 NFL Draft away from the Patriots so that he reportedly could participate in counseling. He returned to the team facility this past Monday.
As Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio shared, Vrabel received what became a standing ovation while attending a season-ticket holder event on Tuesday night. However, Vrabel suggested shortly before the draft got underway that he could spend time away from the team again if he feels his “family needs” him.
Such comments could lead one to question whether or not Vrabel could step down from his position, but it sounds like Maye believes he’ll still have Vrabel as a head coach this coming September.
Drake Maye “thankful” to have Mike Vrabel as a head coach
“Just thankful he’s our head coach,” Maye added about Vrabel. “I know he’s dealing with some stuff off the field and out of the coaching world, we’re here for him. And I know he’s going to come back.”