Patriots HC Mike Vrabel set to skip pre-draft press conference

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be attending Monday’s pre-draft press conference, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Reiss wrote Sunday that V.P. of player personnel Eliot Wolf will take questions from reporters instead.

The decision comes as Vrabel made national headlines this week after photos emerged of him embracing and interlocking fingers with The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini at an adults-only resort in Arizona.

It’s unclear when the Patriots will make him available to take questions from the media. When they do, it’s only a matter of time until he’s asked about his relationship with Russini.

Shortly after the photos first emerged, he gave a statement to the New York Post.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, has sidelined Russini while they investigate her coverage of Vrabel and the personal relationship between the two.

While Vrabel may not have to face reporters on Monday, the 2026 NFL Draft is in less than two weeks. He’ll be forced to take the podium eventually.

James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives.