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Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots looks on during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
What initially appeared to be a one-day absence is now being clarified as part of a longer, ongoing process for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, Vrabel is expected to step away from the team again in the future after already missing time during the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft to begin counseling.
Attempting to clear up some internet confusion the last 24 hours: It was never the plan for Mike Vrabel to attend one day of therapy and not go back. It is a process. He was gone Saturday. He’s back with the team now. He will be gone and return again in the future.
Jones addressed widespread confusion surrounding Vrabel’s absence, emphasizing that it was never intended to be a single-day situation.
“It was never the plan for Mike Vrabel to attend one day of therapy and not go back. It is a process,” Jones wrote. “He was gone Saturday. He’s back with the team now. He will be gone and return again in the future.”
That clarification reframes the situation significantly. Rather than a short-term absence tied strictly to draft weekend, Vrabel’s time away is now understood to be intermittent and ongoing.
Vrabel first stepped away from the team during Day 3 of the NFL Draft, a move that was initially reported by ESPN and later confirmed by the organization.
At the time, Vrabel publicly explained his decision to begin counseling, framing it as a necessary step both personally and professionally.
“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. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling.”
He added that the decision was about becoming “a better husband, father and coach,” while acknowledging the difficulty of stepping away during a critical team event.
The Patriots said in a statement that they “fully support” Vrabel’s decision.
From a football operations standpoint, the Patriots have already demonstrated how they will function during any future absences.
During Vrabel’s time away on draft day, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden led the draft room, executing the team’s plan without disruption.
That structure is expected to remain in place if Vrabel steps away again at any point during the offseason.
Players have also publicly backed their head coach.
“We’re here for coach. We love coach,” quarterback Drake Maye said recently. “I know he’s doing some stuff off the field, but we’re here for him and I know he’s gonna come back.”
Vrabel’s decision comes amid continued attention surrounding his personal life following reports and photos published earlier this offseason involving reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel addressed the situation earlier this week, calling it a “personal and private matter” and acknowledging he has had “difficult conversations” with those close to him, including family, the organization and players.
While he described those conversations as “positive and productive,” the situation has remained a significant off-field storyline — one that has intersected directly with his decision to begin counseling.
The key takeaway is that Vrabel’s absence should not be viewed as isolated.
He is expected to remain actively involved with the team but will likely step away at times as part of an ongoing process. At this point, there is no indication those absences will extend for long stretches or impact his status as head coach.
Instead, the Patriots appear prepared to manage the situation internally while maintaining continuity across football operations.
For New England, it introduces a layer of unpredictability during a critical offseason — but also reflects a broader shift across the NFL, where organizations are increasingly supportive of players and coaches addressing personal matters in real time.
Maggie MacKenzie Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie
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