Newly released photos from a 2022 Super Bowl party add to a growing collection of images showing NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel in close, cozy encounters dating back more than six years.
The latest images, obtained by TMZ Sports and published Monday, were taken at an NFL Honors party the night before Super Bowl LVI at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Vrabel, then head coach of the Tennessee Titans and fresh off being named NFL Coach of the Year, and Russini, then at ESPN, were pictured with Russini’s arm wrapped around Vrabel’s back as she leaned in close to speak to him amid the crowd and a performance by Kings of Leon. Attendees described the interaction as unremarkable at the time.
The photos surface as Russini and Vrabel face intense public scrutiny over their relationship. Russini resigned from The Athletic in mid-April 2026 following an internal review after earlier images from a luxury Arizona resort were published. Vrabel, 50, has said he is seeking counseling and called the matter personal and private. Both are married with children: Russini, 43, wed Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020 and has two kids; Vrabel has been married since 1999 and also has two children.
A review of reported sightings and photos paints a picture of repeated private and semi-public interactions over several years, even as both maintained professional roles covering or coaching in the NFL.
Timeline of Reported Cozy Encounters
- March 11, 2020: Photos published by Page Six in April 2026 show Vrabel and Russini at the Tribeca Tavern in New York City. Images depict them sitting closely, holding hands, kissing and appearing “all over each other,” according to an eyewitness. At the time, Vrabel was coaching the Titans and wearing his wedding ring; Russini was six months from marrying her husband.
- June 2021: TMZ Sports reported in early May 2026 that the pair rented a private boat for two to three hours in Putnam County, Tenn., near Vrabel’s Titans base. Russini was pregnant with her first child at the time. A signed waiver and video footage confirm they were the only two aboard. Vrabel posed for a photo with boat staff; Russini declined, sources said.
- Feb. 12, 2022: The newly released images from the NFL Honors VIP party in Inglewood show Russini with her arm around Vrabel during the pre-Super Bowl event. The Los Angeles Rams went on to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals the next night at SoFi Stadium.
- January 2024: TMZ Sports obtained and published photos of the pair at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Miss. The images, released in late April 2026, show them smiling and appearing comfortable together at gaming tables shortly after Vrabel was fired by the Titans.
- March 28, 2026: Page Six published photos April 7, 2026, of Vrabel and Russini at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Ariz., during NFL league meetings. Images show them holding hands, hugging on a rooftop at sunset, lounging poolside, sharing a hot tub and having breakfast alone. Additional breakfast photos followed April 22. The images triggered the latest round of public attention and Russini’s resignation.
The pattern of encounters — spanning a New York bar, a private boat outing during pregnancy, a high-profile party, a casino trip and a luxury resort getaway — suggests a relationship that endured across changes in jobs, cities and personal milestones. What began with 2020 bar photos showing intimate physical contact continued through 2021 and 2022 while Russini was at ESPN and covering the Titans, persisted after her 2024 move to The Athletic and resurfaced in 2026 while Vrabel coached the Patriots.
Neither Russini nor Vrabel has commented publicly on the specific incidents beyond initial statements denying anything inappropriate. The cumulative sightings have fueled widespread discussion about professional boundaries in the NFL media landscape, though no formal league investigation has been announced.
Super Bowl LVI was played Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium. The NFL Honors ceremony honors the league’s top performers and was held the evening prior.
Flip the pages for more photos of Vrabel and Russini looking cozy.
