The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal has become a massive story that has transcended sports, as it’s now being covered by everyone from cable networks to sports shows to tabloids to gossip blogs.
With this kind of mainstream story that is attracting so many eyeballs, it can be a lot for the individuals involved. Yesterday, a TMZ photographer followed Vrabel through Salt Lake City International Airport and peppered him with questions. Now, TMZ has begun following Vrabel’s wife, Jen, and reporting on her movements and the fact she’s wearing her wedding ring, which led to a ton of strong reactions from around the NFL world.
TMZ Gets Called Out For Following Mike Vrabel’s Wife, Jen, Amid Dianna Russini Scandal
The video of the Patriots head coach being followed and harassed elicited strong reactions online as well, but there is at least an argument that Vrabel is a public figure and brought some of this on himself with the Russini scandal.
However, his wife isn’t a public figure and she is innocent in this whole situation, so when TMZ began following her around, the internet became enraged.
One sports radio host called out TMZ for initially passing on the photos of Vrabel and Russini and now crossing the line to try to play catch-up.
“TMZ passing up the original story first and now following Mike Vrabel’s wife to make up for it is lame and weird,” wrote Zach Gelb.
TMZ passing up the original story first and now following Mike Vrabel’s wife to make up for it is lame and weird. https://t.co/UKgr2PpubY
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) April 29, 2026
WEEI reporter Meghan Ottolini echoed this sentiment.
“In my career, I came up through tabloid journalism. I love tabloids. I worked for the Herald. I didn’t always report the story that was the most, you know, straightforward. So I love that side of journalism,” Ottolini said. “TMZ, leave Mike Vrabel’s wife alone. She is not part of this story, guys.
“She is collateral damage from decisions that two other consenting adults appear to have made. This woman has to deal with photo drops at any time, sweatshirts from the airport, and Spotify playlist dropping. You don’t need to follow her around and see if she’s wearing the ring or not. We got to draw the line somewhere.”
“Leave Mike Vrabel’s wife alone” What are your thoughts on the recent tabloid journalism? Crossing a line? Mego: “She is not a part of this story.” pic.twitter.com/or2mKVSdUM
— WEEI (@WEEI) April 29, 2026
Ottolini also brought up that TMZ was offered the Vrabel/Russini photos first, but passed on it and got beat by Page 6.
“TMZ, you guys were offered the story first, according to reports. You missed out on the story. Page 6 beat you on this. It’s their story. Don’t try to make up for it and play catch-up now by following Jen Vrabel around and snapping pictures of her; just leave her alone,” Ottolini said. “Nobody wants that. If you look at all of social media, which is usually a cesspool … like they just want more and more and more, [yet] the overwhelming response is, leave this woman alone. I’m just putting my two cents in. She’s not a part of this.”
As Ottolini said, most of social media is not happy with TMZ’s reporting and feels bad for Vrabel’s wife.
“Leave this poor woman alone. She did nothing wrong and doesn’t deserve any scrutiny whatsoever. She’s been through enough unwarranted public humiliation,” Washington correspondent Corey Walker wrote.
“This is shit*y. She doesn’t deserve this,” Free Beacon editor Peter Hasson wrote.
“I’m begging y’all to stop being so weird,” NFL Draft analyst Dave Kluge wrote.
“This is gross. Leave his wife alone,” digital content coordinator at 97.5 The Fanatic Dylan MacKinnon wrote.
It remains to be seen if TMZ will take the hint and leave Vrabel’s wife alone, but it seems unlikely given their history and repuation.
