New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has publicly addressed allegations surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel, expressing his continued support for the reigning NFL Coach of the Year.
Speaking at Fanatics Fest in Manhattan on Friday, Kraft stated, "We're privileged to have Mike as our head coach." He added, "You know, no one is infallible. And what's great about Mike is he has great intellectual knowledge about football — all the technical skills. He relates to the players beautifully. And he's someone I have a strong belief and faith in. And I hope he's going to be our head coach for many years to come."
The controversy surfaced in March when photos were published suggesting Vrabel was fraternizing with The Athletic's Dianna Russini at a retreat in Arizona. Russini, who is married, denied any wrongdoing and has since resigned from her position at The Athletic.
Additional photos purportedly showing Vrabel and Russini together emerged in April and later in 2021, when Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans and Russini was reporting on the team for ESPN. Vrabel, who has been married for 27 years, vaguely admitted in April to causing "a distraction to the people that I care most about, my family, this football team, the organization and our fans." He later missed the third day of the NFL Draft to attend family counseling.
Momently after Kraft's remarks, he and fellow billionaire Michael Rubin were seen speaking onstage at Fanatics Fest.
Kraft himself has navigated public scrutiny. In 2019, he was arrested in a prostitution sting in Florida. Charges were eventually dropped after an appeals court ruled that hidden-camera footage from a spa was inadmissible due to privacy concerns. Kraft subsequently issued a public apology, stating, "I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard."
Kraft is now married to Dana Blumberg. Vrabel and his wife were recently seen attending the wedding of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift in Manhattan. Footage of Vrabel entering a limousine ahead of his wife prompted some criticism online.