The Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini scandal continues to dominate headlines and new information surfaces nearly every day.
The most recent bombshell was TMZ releasing a video and documents showing Vrabel and Russini renting a private boat together back in June 2021 when the former was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
The timing of the boat rental is noteworthy, as it was right around the same time as Tennessee’s blockbuster trade for wide receiver Julio Jones. There were already claims that Russini’s reporting may have impacted Jones’ trade market and benefitted Vrabel’s Titans, and this boat ride lends credence to them. Could the NFL investigate?
Did Dianna Russini’s Reporting Allow the Titans to Buy Low on Julio Jones in 2021?
Jones, who spent a decade with the Atlanta Falcons and was one of the most dominant receivers in the league, was traded to Tennessee on June 6, 2021.
At the time, Russini reported that the Falcons had been offered a future first-round pick for Jones, but this ended up being false. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Russini reported this in order to scare away other teams and cool the market for Jones, which then allowed Vrabel’s Titans to swoop in and land the star receiver for pennies on the dollar.
“In May 2021, Russini reported that the Falcons ‘have discussed several offers for wide receiver Julio Jones, including an offer of a future first-round draft pick.’ The report, under a headline that proclaimed ‘Atlanta Falcons have offer of a 1st-round pick for Julio Jones, sources say’ created a clear impression that the Falcons had an offer in hand of a first-round pick for Jones,” Florio wrote.
“Her report also downplayed the Titans’ chances of landing Jones, calling them a ‘long shot.’ (At the time, Vrabel served as head coach of the Titans.) Ultimately, the Titans acquired Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick. So how did the reporting potentially help the Titans? Putting out the word that the Falcons had been offered a first-round pick could have had a chilling effect on any team that may have been considering offering a second-round pick. Calling the Titans a ‘long shot’ allowed them to maneuver quietly for Jones.
“Given the relationship between Vrabel and Russini, it’s not crazy or reckless to wonder whether her reporting was directly or indirectly connected to the effort to help the Titans get Jones on the best possible terms. Which, of course, will bolster suspicions by Eagles fans that she had been working more recently with Vrabel to get Eagles receiver A.J. Brown on the best possible terms.”
With TMZ revealing that the pair was spending time together around the time of the trade, Florio’s theory may have legs. Tony Farmer, host of the Last Men Standing podcast, called this “a very big development.”
“This is the big piece that nobody else has connected yet. Julio Jones was traded to the Titans on June 6, 2021. The TMZ article doesn’t say what date in June it was. But what this tells us is that, right around the Julio Jones trade, within days or weeks, these two were very close physically,” Farmer said.
This is a very big development in the Dianna Russini – Mike Vrabel scandal- here’s why. pic.twitter.com/auywAgIDsU
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) May 6, 2026
Some NFL observers are wondering if this could be what prompts an NFL investigation since it crosses over from a “personal matter” into alleged collusion or tampering. One Philadelphia Eagles podcaster called for Roger Goodell to start an investigation into possible collusion.
“Russini lowered Julio Jones trade value so he could get traded to the Titans. Goodell needs to step in already, this is collusion,” they said.
Russini lowered Julio Jones trade value so he could get traded to the Titans. Goodell needs to step in already this is collusion.. https://t.co/ekl9xBaHUU
— Way Outside The Nest Podcast (@outsidethenest_) May 6, 2026
Before her resignation from The Athletic, Russini was the reporter who was most often discussing the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles. She also linked Brown to the Patriots, where he would reunite with his former head coach, Vrabel.
Given what happened with Jones and how much she was stirring the pot with Brown, some people are wondering if Russini and Vrabel were trying to use the same blueprint to land Brown in New England.
“Dianna Russini reported that the Falcons had a 1st round pick on the table for Julio Jones and then Mike Vrabel’s Titans got him for a 2nd round pick. She tried to do the same thing with AJ Brown: Blow the top off the trade early so Vrabel could get him for a discount,” one Eagles influencer wrote.”
Dianna Russini reported that the Falcons had a 1st round pick on the table for Julio Jones and then Mike Vrabel’s Titans got him for a 2nd round pick.
She tried to do the same thing with AJ Brown: Blow the top off the trade early so Vrabel could get him for a discount.
— tom stakes (@tomstakes) May 6, 2026
At this time, the NFL has indicated that it won’t be investigating the Vrabel-Russini scandal. However, they have said this about the alleged cheating, referring to it as a “personal matter.” However, if calls continue to mount for an investigation into Russini’s reporting and how it influenced trade talks, will the league look into that?
The Vrabel-Russini scandal has transcended sports and become mainstream news, and it shows no signs of slowing down, especially since new information seems to surface daily.
