Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez backs Vrabel amid off-field controversy

Another New England Patriots player has his head coach’s back.

Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was asked about Mike Vrabel’s controversial relationship with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini, specifically what Vrabel said he spoke to the team about.

Gonzalez didn’t mince any words with his response.  

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Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots looks on before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

“We ain’t gon’ speak on what we talked about inside the building,” Gonzalez told reporters. “But I mean, that’s my coach. That’s who I go out there and play for. He’s proven what he can do as a coach. That’s my guy, and I ride behind Vrabes any time of the day.”

Patriots captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane were both asked previously about the Vrabel situation as well.

“Obviously, you know, I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on, but to be honest with you, we’re just focused,” he told reporters on Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports. “I’m focused on what we got going on right now in this building with this team.”

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Henry added he’s “just focused on the guys in this locker room and trying to build it from the ground up.” In other words, he’s not going to be commenting on his head coach’s off-the-field controversy.

Spillane echoed Henry’s sentiment.

“Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing, the main thing,” he explained, per MassLive. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues. But when we’re in the building, we speak football.”

These Patriots are all on the same page with Vrabel despite the scandal that created a football firestorm off the field.

Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots runs on the field before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

The Patriots released a statement before the first round of the draft, saying they “fully support” Vrabel.

“Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment,” the statement said.

“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process.” 

Vrabel was with the Patriots for the first two nights of the NFL Draft, but he stepped away for rounds four through seven to seek counseling.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stands on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

“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 a statement, 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.”

Vrabel also told reporters he’s had “some difficult conversations with people that I care about” regarding him and Russini being photographed together at a Sedona, Arizona, private resort in his first public comments about the controversial relationship. 

Since then, photos have surfaced from 2020 showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 19, 2025. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Russini reportedly married Kevin Goldschmidt, her husband and a Shake Shack executive, six months after the photos were snapped. Goldschmidt and Russini also share two children. 

Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, and they share two sons together. In the pictures, Vrabel’s wedding band is visible on his left hand while conversing with Russini. At the time, Russini was with ESPN, while Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans.