A source close to New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini says the pair still shares a deep personal connection that could eventually bring them together, even as both face intense scrutiny over recently surfaced photos and the professional fallout.
The claim comes amid a rapidly evolving scandal that began earlier this month when Page Six published images of Vrabel and Russini at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. The photos showed the two holding hands, hugging and lounging poolside at the adults-only Ambiente resort. Additional images published this week appear to show them kissing at a New York City bar in March 2020.
Both are married to other people. Russini, 43, wed fast-food executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020 and has children. Vrabel, 50, has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999; they have two children.
Russini resigned last week from her role as a top NFL reporter at The Athletic, part of The New York Times, after the outlet launched an internal investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel, whom she had covered professionally. Vrabel, in his second season as Patriots coach after leading the Tennessee Titans, has said he is undergoing counseling and described difficult conversations with his family and the organization.
In a brief statement to reporters this week, Vrabel said his “previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to” and emphasized making better decisions for his family and team. He has otherwise declined to discuss the photos in detail, calling initial reports “laughable.”
A source told the Daily Mail that the controversy has forced the pair to put any feelings on hold for now.
“There is still a deep connection between Dianna and Mike that they can’t act on now that they are surrounded by this controversy,” the source said. “The next several months are going to be a humongous test for both of them.”
The source added that “literally every option seems to be on the table,” including the possibility of divorces and the two ultimately finding their way to each other in the future.
“Will there be divorces, will they find themselves together in the future? Nobody knows that answer at all,” the source said. “But there is a lot of history there with all the relationships involved. It’s currently a mess that will be fully addressed as the months go on and how life pans out.”
The pair first drew public attention in 2020 when Russini was covering the Titans for ESPN and photos emerged of them at a New York bar. At the time, witnesses described affectionate behavior, though both insisted the images were misleading and that friends were present.
Russini and Vrabel have repeatedly denied any romantic relationship, calling the Arizona photos a “completely innocent interaction.”
@robertlittalbso Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel clowning his wife Jen; This is Diabolical #cheater Affair #Sidechick #Wife #NFL
The scandal has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest in NFL media coverage and has become a distraction for the Patriots as they prepare for the upcoming season. Team officials have said Vrabel’s focus remains on football and family.
Whether the reported connection survives the public pressure remains unclear. The source noted that sustained success on the field could help the story fade, drawing a parallel to past high-profile athlete controversies that receded over time.
For now, both Vrabel and Russini are navigating the personal and professional consequences of the photos that have thrust their private lives into the spotlight.
Flip the pages for Vrabel and Russini canoodling together.
