The Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga added another chapter on May 11, as TMZ published a photo of the two together at a VIP party before Super Bowl 56 in February 2022.
The image, which shows Russini with her arm around Vrabel during a conversation at an NFL Honors afterparty in Los Angeles, is the latest in a growing catalog of photos spanning multiple years that have surfaced since Page Six first broke the story on April 7.
TMZ’s Latest Photo of Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini Draws Reactions
What started with images of the two at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, has grown into a five-week stream of photos and videos from various cities and years. Each one further challenges Vrabel’s original dismissal of the situation.
Russini, who resigned from The Athletic on April 14 before the outlet’s internal review concluded, has remained silent since her departure. Vrabel, meanwhile, acknowledged the fallout and missed the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling.
The new image places the two together at a crowded industry event, surrounded by other NFL figures. TMZ reported that Russini was working ESPN’s red carpet coverage earlier that evening, while Vrabel had just won Coach of the Year for his work with the Tennessee Titans. According to the outlet, Russini’s hand rests on Vrabel’s back as she leans in to speak to him.
Here’s how the NFL world reacted to the new photo:
“This is starting to feel like Cash Money/Master P drops from the early 2000s,” Jemele Hill wrote on X. “So we just gone get a new CD every week?”
The Russini Files get deeper and deeper https://t.co/4Decawsik8
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) May 11, 2026
“How long have you been planning this, TMZ?” Asante Samuel, who played with Vrabel, asked on X.
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“This is an endless onslaught, at this point… wow,” NFL insider John Frascella added.
This rollout is INSANE. https://t.co/jBsdv2hBLX
— Kei (@RealMamaEagle) May 11, 2026
“Super Bowl parties are loud. It’s hard to hear. Find a new slant,” Dave Portnoy said on X in an attempt to shut down any questions surrounding Vrabel.
Reset the counter pic.twitter.com/iC94prddQe
— Onyx (@OnyxOdds) May 11, 2026
On its own, the photo is less controversial than the Sedona images or the previously published alleged kissing photos from 2020 in New York. But it adds yet another data point to a timeline that now stretches from at least 2020 to 2025, including a private boat rental in Tennessee in June 2021, and a Mississippi casino visit in January 2024.
As of now, Vrabel’s job with the New England Patriots appears to be safe, as he has received public support from quarterback Drake Maye. Moreover, the NFL is also not investigating the head coach, as this is a personal matter.
However, things can change quickly for everyone involved. Every week since April 7 has produced new photographs, videos, or reporting on the scandal. It suggests that anyone who crossed paths with Vrabel and Russini over the past six years and happened to take a photo is now aware of its potential value and has financial gains from it.
As long as old images keep resurfacing, the story will continue to evolve, no matter what the Patriots or Vrabel publicly claim. The real question heading into training camp isn’t Vrabel’s coaching ability but whether the surrounding noise will ever settle enough for football to take center stage.
