Perhaps the most eventful offseason week of Mike Vrabel's life included a call to the New England Patriots' newest player mere hours after an interview about the events that have transpired.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick. That selection preceded a phone call from the Patriots' top brass - including Vrabel.
Video from the Patriots shows that Vrabel did his best to act like everything was going alright during his talk with Lomu.
“Doing great, man! Congratulations. Happy to have you. I hope you’re with your family and you're enjoying this, and we can't wait to get you here and give you a chance to help the football team, man," Vrabel said.
It was a pretty normal phone call, but in the context of everything that's happened to Vrabel, people found it very funny.
Recapping the Scandal
The controversy began earlier this month after photos published by Page Six showed Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini together at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. The images sparked widespread speculation about a possible inappropriate relationship and raised questions about professional boundaries between reporters and league sources. Both denied wrongdoing and said the photos lacked context.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The story has grown larger because it touched on media ethics, conflicts of interest, and how personal relationships can affect public trust in sports reporting. The Athletic reportedly reviewed the matter internally, and Russini later resigned from the outlet amid intense public attention.
The NFL said it was not investigating Vrabel under league policy, while Vrabel later acknowledged having difficult conversations with family and team members. The controversy became less about confirmed misconduct and more about perception, accountability, and standards for journalists and high-profile sports figures.
