Patriots Coach Makes Promise As Smoochy Pics Add To Russini Drama

It’s NFL Draft Day, but the main story heading into Round 1 on Thursday night is the off-the-field drama between New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter for The Athletic, Dianna Russini.

New pictures of the pair dropped on Thursday, showing the two kissing in New York six years before photos taken in March, which showed them canoodling in Arizona, ignited the current scandal.

Page Six published the bombshell photos showing Vrabel and Russini locking lips at a bar in New York City back in 2020 — just two weeks after the media outlet exposed Vrabel and Russini, both married, at an adults-only luxury resort in Arizona. The new photos add to the speculation that the two were romantically involved — and had been for some time.

Dianna Russini and married Mike Vrabel caught kissing at NYC bar in bombshell new photos — taken 6 years before scandal https://t.co/WIPOoGKAWF pic.twitter.com/4j1UpviNuy

— New York Post (@nypost) April 23, 2026

“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told Page Six. “He had a ring on.”

Vrabel, who has been married to his college sweetheart since 1999, was wearing his wedding ring during the New York rendezvous when Russini could be seen “in between [Vrabel’s] legs,” according to Page Six.

“They were having a glorious time. They were giving each other pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly,” the source told the outlet. “There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were. I don’t even think the bartenders did.”

In 2020, Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Russini was with ESPN, covering the Titans closely.

Someone close to the situation told The Daily Wire it was well known that the two had an off-the-field relationship during this time.

Page Six reached out to Vrabel and Russini for comment on the photos Wednesday, and while the pair didn’t respond, ESPN reported late Wednesday that the Patriots coach would be skipping day three of the NFL Draft Saturday to go to counseling.

“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel said. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”

Vrabel told ESPN he plans to be with his wife, Jen, and their two sons outside of Massachusetts this weekend.

“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result,” Vrabel said.

The 50-year-old vaguely addressed the Arizona incident with Russini on Tuesday, when he informed reporters that he’s had “difficult conversations” with his family, players, and staff.

“We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me,” he said during the press conference. “That starts with me.”

RELATED: Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny

Russini resigned from her senior position with The Athletic on April 14, stating in her resignation letter that she was leaving not because she “accept[s] the narrative,” but because she was refusing to give it “further oxygen.”

The 43-year-old has been married to her husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, since September 2020 — six months after the newly-released photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken.