Patriots coach shares a message after being seen ‘holding hands’ with a top NFL reporter
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel recently shared a statement after photos of him holding hands with NFL reporter Dianna Russini were published.
Vrabel made headlines when the New York Post’s Page Six got exclusive pictures of them from late March, around the time of the NFL’s annual meeting in Phoenix. The article said the two were seen “holding hands and hugging” at an adults-only resort called Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona.
Page Six reported that Vrabel had been at a scouting event at Arizona State University before heading to Ambiente, which the website describes as a spot for romantic getaways. The photos show the two-time NFL Coach of the Year and Russini, a former ESPN SportsCenter anchor, together on what looked like a rooftop with mountains in the background, as well as by the pool and hot tub areas. Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people.
Friends of both say they were part of a larger group, but the pictures don’t show anyone else around, according to Page Six.
After some negative reactions online, Vrabel responded, saying the moments captured in the photos were “completely innocent.” He told Page Six, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini, who has covered the NFL for The Athletic since 2023, made a similar statement. She said, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters often interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor at The Athletic, also spoke up for Russini. He said, “These photos are misleading and miss important context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a top journalist covering the NFL, and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020, and they have two children. Vrabel and his wife Jennifer celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2024.
Vrabel and Russini have known each other since his time coaching the Tennessee Titans, a team she covered as an ESPN reporter. She now covers the Patriots in depth for The Athletic and hosts the podcast ‘Scoop City: Inside the NFL.’