By now, everyone has seen the photos of NFL insider Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel together at an Arizona resort earlier this month.
But today, new photos were released of the two allegedly kissing and spending time together at a New York City bar back in 2020. To make matters worse, on Wednesday, Vrabel announced he would miss Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to enter counseling. Now, a fellow NFL insider is reacting to what this whole situation means for Russini’s future as an NFL reporter now that she’s a free agent after resigning from The Athletic.
Mike Florio Slams Dianna Russini’s Credibility After Mike Vrabel Situation
Shortly after pictures surfaced of Russini and Vrabel spending time together at the Arizona resort, the NFL reporter resigned from her role with The Athletic and released a statement saying this decision was not an admission that she and Vrabel had a relationship, but rather to limit the damage to her and her family.
Vrabel addressed the media for the first time earlier this week, thanked them for their patience with the situation, and said he was having some “difficult conversations” with his family, coaches, and players.
However, what many thought seemed weird about it was that Vrabel didn’t try to deny anything in his initial address. Then, later, it was reported that the head coach would not be available on Day 3 of the NFL Draft as he will enter counseling.
Now, more photos surfaced today that date back to 2020 (six years ago), of Vrabel and Russini appearing to kiss at a New York City bar.
With everything that has come out now — the original photos, Russini resigning, Vrabel taking time away from his team, and the newest photos — it seems what many assumed of the situation is indeed what was going on.
Despite their alleged relationship, Russini continued to report on the Patriots and the Tennessee Titans while Vrabel was their head coach. On Thursday, NBC Sports’ Mike Florio gave his thoughts on Russini’s conflicts of interests and the ethics involved.
“I don’t know if she can ever come back from this as a reporter. Because the credibility is obliterated,” Florio said on Pro Football Talk.
“Because they didn’t ever reside in the world of truth. This was, ‘How do we put this fire out? What story can we tell to make these photos look like something other than what people are going to think they are?'”
“And now Vrabel, twice this week, has essentially said to the world they’re exactly what you thought they were,” Florio added.
Florio also penned a column arguing that Russini’s ESPN reports must now be investigated, just as The Athletic is doing with her reporting, since she worked at the Worldwide Leader in 2020. He also alleged that Russini may have been using her scoops to help Vrabel in trade negotiations.
“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.”
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This surely won’t be the last time we visit this topic, as the Patriots will have a decision to make as well. Vrabel had taken the franchise from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to the Super Bowl in his first year, but this story just keeps getting messier and messier.
Russini has already resigned, and according to Florio, it may be hard for her to find another reporting job. It remains to be seen where Russini, and Vrabel for that matter, go from here.
