New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has the full support of his team as he begins counseling in response to ongoing affair rumors with journalist Dianna Russini, stemming from Sedona resort photos detailed in prior coverage. Russini, who resigned from The Athletic, and Vrabel maintain their interactions were innocent.
Following photos from the Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona, on March 28—showing Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging, as previously reported—the controversy has escalated with new developments.
The New England Patriots issued a statement on April 23 affirming their full backing of Vrabel. Meanwhile, Vrabel announced he is starting counseling on the same day "to be the best husband, father, and coach possible," skipping the final day of the NFL Draft.
Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, stating she refused to let speculation define her career. Both continue to deny any affair, with Vrabel calling suggestions "laughable" and Russini emphasizing the photos misrepresented a group of six friends.
Adding context, Page Six reports also surfaced older photos: 2020 images from a New York City bar showing them close, including alleged kissing per eyewitnesses, and a 2024 casino photo from Biloxi, Mississippi, post-Vrabel's Titans firing, depicting them drinking together without PDA.
Both are married parents: Vrabel to Jen since 1999 with two sons, and Russini to Kevin Goldschmidt with sons Michael and Joey. This follows the NFL's April 18 decision not to investigate, as covered earlier.