Vrabel Steps Back for Family, Draft Continues

0:00On April 24th, former Patriot's linebacker's coach Mike Rabel is stepping away for personal counseling right before the 2026 NFL draft. Photos surfaced, showing him with NFL insider Diana Rossini in close situations, by holding hands and chilling in a hot tub at an Arizona resort. He's skipping day three of the draft on April 25th to focus on this. More pictures dropped from TMZ and the New York Post on April 22nd and 23rd, some dating back to 2020 when Rabel was still, with the Titans. The Patriots put out a statement backing him as he prioritizes family first, then the team. Rabel told local media, his people in the organization, got the draft covered. Fans and folks are buzzing about the impact on this powerhouse coach, who turned the Patriots from last place to AFC champs in just one season after. Joining in January 2025, that's his second coach of the year award, first from leading the Titans to the AFC's top seed in 2021.

1:01Rossini already stepped down from the athletic. Patriot's brass is supportive, but Rabel couldn't say if he'll miss more team stuff. NFL Commissioner Roger Godell called it a personal matter on ESPN. Meanwhile, the Titans moved on with new coaches after firing Rabel post 2023. Rabel's aiming to strike that family team balance and make better calls moving forward. The draft rolls on without him, but I stay glued to how this plays out for New England's rising star coach. That's your update from NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.