New Photos, obtained by the Page Six, show New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini kissing at a New York City bar six years before their current scandal, where they were seen hugging and holding hands at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona.
“They were kissing, and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness said of the pair, who are seen getting close at the Tribeca Tavern in New York City on March 11, 2020. “He had a ring on.” At the time the photos were taken, Vrabel was already married to his wife of over 20 years, Jennifer Vrabel, while Russini was six months away from marrying her now-husband, Kevin Goldschmidt.
“They were having a glorious time,” the eyewitness added. “They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly. There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were. I don’t even think the bartenders did.” Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans at the time, and Russini was an NFL reporter for ESPN.
Earlier this month, Vrabel and Russini were seen together at Ambiente Sedona, an adults-only hotel in Sedona, Arizona. They were first spotted enjoying breakfast together in the morning, and were later seen by the pool and on the roof of a private bungalow.
After the photos were made public, Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” she wrote. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that, I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.”
Weeks later, Vrabel broke his silence and said that he’s had “positive and productive” conversations with those close to him. “I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” he told reporters. He previously alleged that the photos showed “a completely innocent interaction.”
As reported by ESPN, Vrabel recently revealed he won’t be joining the Patriots for the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft and is seeking counseling.
“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. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said on Wednesday (April 22). “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. I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father, and coach that I possibly can be.”
Vrabel shares two children with his wife, and Russini shares two children with her husband.
