Newly obtained photographs show New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini kissing and embracing at a dimly lit Manhattan bar more than six years ago, while both were involved with other partners.
The images, exclusively obtained by Page Six and published Wednesday, were taken in the early morning hours of March 11, 2020, at Tribeca Tavern. An eyewitness told the outlet that Vrabel and Russini were “all over each other” and shared multiple kisses while seated close together at the bar. The source said Vrabel, then head coach of the Tennessee Titans, wore his wedding ring during the encounter.
At the time, Vrabel was married to his wife, Jen, whom he wed in 1999. The couple share two adult sons. Russini, then an ESPN NFL reporter covering the Titans among other teams, married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt six months later in September 2020. The couple have two young sons.
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” the eyewitness said. “He had a ring on.” The source added that Russini’s legs were positioned between Vrabel’s and the pair exchanged “a bunch of pecks constantly” while spending at least an hour at the nearly empty bar around midnight. “There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were,” the witness said.
The 2020 photos predate more recent images published by Page Six on April 7 that showed Vrabel and Russini holding hands, hugging and spending time together at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona, on March 28. Both denied any romantic involvement in that incident, saying they were part of a larger group of friends. Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic on April 14 amid the fallout.
Vrabel, 50, issued a statement Wednesday saying he would miss the third day of the NFL draft to seek 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,” Vrabel told ESPN. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. … This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person.”
Page Six contacted both Vrabel and Russini on Wednesday afternoon regarding the photos. While neither commented for this story, Vrabel told ESPN just hours later that he will miss day three of the NFL draft to enter counseling.
The Patriots hired Vrabel as head coach in 2025 after his successful tenure with the Titans. Russini has covered the NFL for ESPN and, more recently, The Athletic and The New York Times.
Page Six first reported the 2020 bar photos Wednesday as the latest development in a story that has drawn widespread attention in NFL and media circles. Neither Vrabel nor Russini has faced formal discipline from their organizations related to the incidents.
Flip the pages for the new photos.
