We’re still relatively early into the 2026 NFL season, but the New England Patriots’ season is already spiraling into chaos, something that is seldom expected of the Super Bowl runner-ups. The Patriots, coached by Mike Vrabel, sit at a rocky 1-2 start going into Week 4 following a brutal 35-6 blowout loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the team’s struggles on the field are evident, Hall of Fame wideout Terrell Owens insisted New England’s sudden collapse has more to do with their off-field distractions rather than Drake Maye’s or their offense’s inabilities. 

Speaking on his Get To The Point podcast, Terrell Owens revealed what he thinks about the offseason scandal surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel and former employee of The Athletic, Dianna Russini. Owens believes that it affected the Patriots’ preparation coming into the season.

“This is just not a QB problem or an offensive problem. Me personally, this started in the off-season. This is a Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal. This is the curse of what’s going on, because a lot of people, they kind of sniffed at how there wasn’t really any repercussions with Mike Vrabel and this Dianna Russini scandal going on. Both of them are married…

“That’s the problem. And honestly, it is affecting their season. Mike Vrabel, he was dealing with a lot of those offseason issues. He wasn’t really at all the practices…He had to go get on his knees to his wife like, ‘Ah, wife, can you forgive me?’ I’m sure there’s a lot of that going on…I’m hoping that they can turn it around,” Terrell Owens said on the Get To The Point Podcast.

The controversy Owens highlighted dates back to April, when Page Six published photos of Mike Vrabel and veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini holding hands at a Sedona, Arizona resort. Both individuals are married, sparking intense discussion across national media circles regarding professional boundaries and personal accountability during the offseason.

Following that public fallout, Russini resigned from her position as senior NFL insider at The Athletic after an internal editorial review. Vrabel briefly stepped away from team operations right before the draft to attend counseling with his family in Utah, though the Patriots never issued any formal disciplinary suspension against their head coach.

Despite Owens’ opinion, New England’s early slump stems from their inability to execute on the field. Drake Maye has managed 585 passing yards, one passing TD, and 6 interceptions through the first 3 weeks. Even worse is the fact that he is currently leading the league in turnovers.  

Addressing the team’s messy play, Vrabel admitted after the blowout loss to Jacksonville that his “concern level is very high,” emphasizing that players cannot keep forcing reckless mistakes.

On WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show, reports emerged claiming an unnamed insider said the working relationship between Vrabel and Maye had degraded. These reports mostly stemmed from growing local panic across Boston sports radio. The radio hosts argued Maye was never Vrabel’s preferred choice to lead the offense long-term. 

However, Mike Vrabel was quick to strike down such rumors in the September 30, Wednesday press conference. 

“He heard from who? Unnamed sources? Let me just tell you why I’m here. I’m here because Drake was the quarterback. Believe it or not, I had choices as to where I wanted to coach. I wanted to coach here because Drake was the quarterback. So, I don’t have really much other to add to that about a comment from an unnamed source. But I’ll just tell you what I’ve told numerous people if they want to ask me why I’m here,” Vrabel stated.

While Vrabel addressed the media this week, Maye had already voiced his full support for his head coach back in April, stating,

“We’re here for coach, we love coach. What he does for us, what he’s done for us this past year, you can’t speak into words. Thankful he’s our head coach. Know he’s dealing with some off the field and out of the coaching world, but we’re here for him, and I know he’s gonna come back,” Drake Maye told the reporters.

Now, the Patriots face an immense test heading into Highmark Stadium against the undefeated 3-0 Buffalo Bills. If Maye and Vrabel cannot execute cleanly in Week 4, the outside noise will only grow louder.