Earlier this month, “Page Six” published photos that appeared to show New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, the top pro-football reporter at “The Athletic,” holding hands at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. The photos caused a major dustup in the sports world, and since then things have only gotten messier — Russini left her job, Vrabel shared mysteriously that he’s “seeking counseling,” and even more photos of the two of them looking flirty have hit “Page Six.” Here’s what to know about the duo shaping up to be the Coldplay couple of sports broadcasting.
Russini, who was previously an anchor at ESPN, had held the title of senior NFL insider at the New York Times–owned sports publication since 2023 before she stepped down this month. Vrabel has been coaching the Patriots since January 2025. Both of them are married — Vrabel has been with his wife, Jen Vrabel, since 1999, and they share two sons, born in 2000 and 2001.
Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since September 2020, and they also have two sons, born 2021 and 2022.
In the Sedona photos, Vrabel and Russini look to be hugging while taking in the sunset and lounging together in the pool, with one source claiming to have seen them enjoying breakfast together. Right after the photos came out, Russini and Vrabel denied anything was going on romantically between them. “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini told “Page Six.” “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.” Vrabel, meanwhile, told the outlet the photos of them “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
