Just when you thought the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel controversy was starting to die down, more photos, details, and resurfaced posts have emerged.
The New England Patriots head coach addressed the media on Thursday and spoke about his decision to skip Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to focus on counseling sessions with his family. Now, one day after Vrabel spoke to the press and tried to move on from the scandal, a resurfaced ESPN photo is raising eyebrows.
Old ESPN Photo Features Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini, Raising More Questions
Back in 2021, Russini signed a multi-year extension with ESPN in what would have been her fifth season covering the NFL with the company. Russini was an NFL insider at the time, breaking news and covering games.
After she inked a contract extension, ESPN put out an announcement and it has resurfaced because it curiously features Mike Vrabel in the background. Back then, Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Cut to 2026, and now this photo of Vrabel and Russini has not aged well.
Earlier this week, new pictures emerged that allegedly showed the pair in a New York City bar back in 2020. Per Page Six, those pictures were taken six years before they were caught hugging at a resort in Arizona, showing just how long this has been going on.
The Patriots head coach was already married to his wife Jen at the time, while Russini was six months away from tying the knot with Shake Shack exec Kevin Goldschmidt.
Roughly 30 minutes before the 2026 NFL Draft got underway on Thursday, Vrabel made a few statements to the world.
Vrabel was first asked why he outright dismissed the allegations as “laughable” when they first surfaced.
“That’s a private and personal matter,” he said. “I think that was an attempt to protect your family. I would never be dismissive. My family and this football team are the most important thing and that’s what I plan to do.”
While Vrabel will be present for Day 2 of the draft, he will sit out Day 3 and attend counseling instead. For her part, Russini resigned from The Athletic when the allegations first surfaced.
On draft day, Russini also deactivated her X account, raising more questions than answers.
As things stand, there have been no reports that the Patriots plan on parting ways with Vrabel. They have supported him publicly.
Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that the league will not investigate the matter, as they are allowing the Patriots to handle it as a personal matter.
