Gonzalez affirms loyalty to Vrabel amid controversy
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez expressed strong support for head coach Mike Vrabel during a controversy involving Vrabel's past relationship with former reporter Dianna Russini. Gonzalez told reporters he would not discuss internal team talks but called Vrabel his coach and pledged to back him anytime. The remarks follow photos surfacing of Vrabel and Russini together, including ones from a 2020 New York City bar.
Gonzalez said: "We ain’t gon’ speak on what we talked about inside the building. 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 voiced similar focus on football. Henry stated he remained concentrated on the locker room and building the team, while Spillane noted Vrabel handles personal issues outside work and sticks to football inside the building.
The Patriots issued a statement supporting Vrabel before the NFL draft's first round, praising his openness about personal improvement and confidence in his leadership during pre-draft preparations. Vrabel attended the draft's first two nights but left for rounds four through seven to begin counseling, as he announced. He described it as a commitment to deliver his best for family, team and organization, mentioning difficult conversations with those close to him.
Photos showed Vrabel and Russini at a private Sedona, Arizona, resort and kissing at a New York City bar in the early hours of March 11, 2020, obtained by the New York Post. At the time, Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans and wore his wedding ring; he has been married to Jen since 1999 with two sons. Russini, then at ESPN, married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt six months later; they have two children.
