New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will begin counseling this weekend and will miss the final day of the NFL Draft following a reported off-field controversy involving a visit to an Arizona resort with then-The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.

Vrabel is expected to be present when the Patriots make their first-round selection at No. 31 overall on Thursday. He will also participate in the team’s picks during the second and third rounds on Friday. However, he will be absent for the final four rounds on Saturday due to his scheduled counseling commitment.

In a statement provided Wednesday night, Vrabel said he made the decision after careful consideration and discussions with his family and the organization.

“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel said, according to ESPN. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”

He added that the decision reflects his desire to improve both personally and professionally.

“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel said. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”

Vrabel and Russini are both married. The New York Post previously published photos of the two in Sedona, Arizona, ahead of league meetings in Phoenix last month. Russini resigned from The Athletic last week amid an internal investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel.

Vrabel addressed the situation earlier this week, saying he had held conversations with family members and members of the Patriots organization.

“I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” he said. “Those have been positive and productive. You never want to be the cause of a distraction, and those are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team.”

Vrabel, 50, became head coach of the Patriots ahead of the 2025 season after previously leading the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. He guided New England to Super Bowl LX in his first season, where the team fell 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks. He was named AP NFL Coach of the Year for the second time in his career last season, having first earned the honor in 2021. -Field Level Media/Reuters