New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has changed his tone toward running back TreVeyon Henderson’s public activism, months after warning the player that speaking out publicly could put him at odds with representing the team.
Vrabel was asked Friday about Henderson’s vocal defense of a Massachusetts couple who say they lost custody of their daughter to the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) after refusing to allow her to transition to a boy. Authorities have said the case centers on allegations of abuse by the couple, though the couple have not been convicted of any crime.
Henderson spent much of the past several days defending the family on social media and in conversations with beat reporters on Thursday.
“I think he’s handled it, I mean, about as maturely,” Vrabel said. “I think he tried to explain himself. TreVeyon is a special person, great teammate. I love being around him. And I think he pretty much spoke on what he thought and what he believes, and I think that that’s impressive. You know, for him to be able to speak on it, and [I] leave it up to him.”
That response marks a shift from April, when Vrabel addressed reporters at the NFL annual meeting in Arizona about Henderson’s public support for former Chicago Bulls player Jaden Ivey. Ivey was released by the Bulls after speaking out against the NBA’s promotion of Pride Month and what he called “unrighteousness.”
“I think there’s a fine line,” Vrabel said at the time. “I’ll tell you, I love TreVeyon. I love the person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family. His wife. The people in our building. And so, I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heart and in their mind. But also, I want to make sure that they’re educated. We want to be inclusive. Everything we want to do wants to provide an environment for people to feel comfortable. But also to share their personal beliefs and, also, we represent the team and we represent the organization.”
Vrabel’s Friday remarks contained none of that earlier language about players needing to be “educated” or about representing the team and organization when speaking publicly.
The shift comes after Vrabel’s own conduct drew scrutiny this offseason. Page Six reported that in the days before the Arizona meeting, Vrabel, who is married, spent time with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini, who is also married, at a resort in Sedona. Photos showed the two holding hands, embracing, and spending time together at a pool and hot tub.
Whether that episode influenced Vrabel’s changed view of players expressing personal beliefs publicly is not something he has addressed directly.
