New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini — both of whom are married — have issued statements after photos showed them holding hands and hugging at a luxury resort in Arizona.
On Tuesday, Page Six published the photos showing Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, at the Ambiente hotel in Sedona on Saturday, March 28.
The football coach had attended a scouting event at Arizona State University in Tempe on Friday, March 27, before traveling to the hotel, the publication reported.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel — who celebrated his 26th anniversary with wife Jen Vrabel last year — said in a statement to Page Six. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Vrabel and his wife share two children: Tyler (offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons), 25, and Carter, 24.
Russini also shared a statement, where she insisted that the two of them were on a group holiday with friends who were not pictured.
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” she said.
Russini shares two children with her husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt. A source close to the former ESPN anchor told PageSix she was staying at the hotel during a hiking trip with two female friends.
“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, told PageSix. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
The Independent has contacted the Patriots and The Athletic for further comment.
Russini joined The Athletic — the formerly independent outlet now owned by The New York Times that serves as the paper’s sports arm — in 2023, where she hosts the Scoop City: Inside the NFL podcast. She holds the title of “senior NFL insider” at the publication.
Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker who spent eight seasons with the team, was appointed head coach in January 2025 and made an immediate impact, guiding the franchise to a surprise Super Bowl appearance this year and earning NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Russini previously faced scrutiny in 2015 when Jessica McCloughan, wife of the Washington Commanders (then the Redskins) GM Scot McCloughan, publicly accused them of having an affair.
However, Jessica later apologized for her remarks.
“The comment was unfounded and inappropriate, and I have the utmost respect for both the reporter and ESPN,” she shared on Twitter.
“I regret that my actions have brought undeserved negative attention to the Redskins organization and its leadership. My comments in no way reflect the opinions or attitudes of the organization and I regret that my behavior has in any way negatively impacted the team and its loyal fan base.”