Following the recent developments between New England Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter Dianna Russini, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has clarified the league’s stance on the matter. 

According to an X post made by NFL insider Adam Schefter, Goodell issued a public statement on 24 April.

“NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on a pre-draft interview with ESPN that the Mike Vrabel situation did not fall under the league’s personal conduct policy, and that it was a team matter.” 

“This is not a personal conduct policy, as we know today,” Goodell said. “It’s a personal matter, and we’ll leave it at that.”

Goodell was addressing the Page Six report on Vrabel and Russini’s off-field meeting at a hotel in Arizona. The exclusive released on 7 April included images where the two were “holding hands and hugging at a luxurious hotel.”

Article IX of the Constitution and By Laws of the NFL, 1970 states that any conduct in violation of the rules provided in this article will result in “conduct detrimental to the League and professional football.”

However, per the Commissioner, Vrabel’s actions do not fall under that.

In a press conference held recently, Vrabel addressed the situation and revealed that he will undergo counseling. The head coach would be missing the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft.

“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. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend.” 

Initially, both Vrabel and Russini addressed the matter, refuting the claims. 

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini's Responses on the Report

On April 7, Page Six claimed that the two “spotted two weekends ago” at the Ambiente in Sedona. In her response to the report, Russini maintained that there were other people, too. 

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said. 

Meanwhile, Vrabel earlier dismissed the scenario as “laughable.”

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

The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, in his public statement to NBC News, said these photos are “misleading and lack essential context.”

However, The Athletic, owned by The New York Times, opened an investigation into Russini as her conduct violated their guidelines.  

“The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, so as not to call into question their credibility,” their statement read.

Russini resigned on 14 April, citing “media frenzy” and “self-feeding speculation” in her letter to Ginsberg. 

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore