Story perspectives

Vrabel Skips Draft Day 3 Amid Kiss Controversy

4/25/2026

Summary

Vrabel Skips Draft

Head coach Mike Vrabel announced on April 23, 2026 he will miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft for counseling.
Page Six released March 10, 2020 photos showing head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini kissing, which law expert Michael McCann said may have violated privacy law and risk liability.
The NFL said it will not open an investigation, with the team publicly backing head coach Mike Vrabel despite media criticism.

Summary

Patriots Draft Unaffected

Patriots officials say draft preparations stay on schedule, with Eliot Wolf’s staff completing evaluations and set to pick players without Coach Vrabel on Day 3.
2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh will proceed unchanged, with Patriots saying the scandal won’t affect their strategy.
Page Six released a batch of photos on April 24 showing Coach Vrabel and Russini kissing at a Tribeca bar in March 2020, with Russini’s X account made private and scrubbed on April 23.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 O.J. Simpson civil case sparked a $33.5 million settlement after the National Enquirer published leaked private photos, prompting nationwide privacy debates. Echoing that backlash, the 2026 resurfacing of Patriots coach Mike Vrabel’s kiss with reporter Dianna Russini on Page Six revived similar concerns, while the NFL again declined a formal probe, underscoring the league’s historic reluctance to confront media-driven scandals.

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Vrabel Skips Draft

Head coach Mike Vrabel announced on April 23, 2026 he will miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft for counseling.
Page Six released March 10, 2020 photos showing head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini kissing, which law expert Michael McCann said may have violated privacy law and risk liability.
The NFL said it will not open an investigation, with the team publicly backing head coach Mike Vrabel despite media criticism.

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