Current New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini were caught kissing at a secluded New York City bar six years before they were pictured hugging and hanging poolside at an adults-only resort in Arizona earlier this month.
The latest batch of exclusive photos from the New York Post purportedly shows Vrabel, who was then the coach of the Tennessee Titans, at the Tribeca Tavern with the NFL insider, who was working for ESPN and frequently covering the team at the time.
‘They were kissing and they were all over each other,’ one eyewitness told Page Six of the March 11, 2020 encounter. ‘He had a ring on.’
The source went to describe the pair as ‘all over each other.’
‘They were having a glorious time,’ the source said. ‘They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks constantly. There was nobody in there. Nobody knew who they were. I don’t even think the bartenders did.’
Curiously, the photos were reportedly taken as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping across the United States. Russini was married to husband Kevin Goldschmidt later that year. Vrabel, meanwhile, has been married to wife Jen since 1999. Both have two children.
Russini and Vrabel have known each other since his time as head coach of the Titans
Mike Vrabel has admitted he’s been forced to have ‘difficult conversations with people I care about’ as he addressed the Dianna Russini photo scandal for the first time on Tuesday
Russini would join the Athletic in 2023, while Vrabel took over in New England last year before guiding the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
The Daily Mail has sought comment with Russini and through Vrabel’s agent.
Earlier this month, the New York Post published suggestive photos of Vrabel with Russini fraternizing at a $2,500-a-night retreat in Sedona, Arizona. The Post later released other pictures, ostensibly showing Vrabel and Russini enjoying breakfast together.
While sources close to both parties insisted to Page Six they were joined by a group of friends, ‘multiple eyewitnesses’ reportedly claimed the two were actually ‘alone’ in Arizona.
Vrabel and Russini have both denied any wrongdoing, while insisting the photos of them hugging and hanging poolside are misleading.
Russini was ultimately placed on leave and investigated by The Athletic’s parent company, The New York Times, only to resign from her position last week.
Other than describing the Post’s story as ‘laughable’ in a brief statement, Vrabel had been silent on the matter until ostensibly making himself accountable to the public at Tuesday’s press conference.
Speaking to reporters as the Patriots started their offseason program, an emotional Vrabel said: ‘I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about about – with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players.
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, for over two decades and share two children
Dianna Russini married fast food executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020 during the pandemic
Trolls have lampooned online wedding photos of Russini with her husband amid the scandal
‘Those have been positive and productive. We believe that in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me.’
But while Vrabel appeared to be taking accountability for the scandal, he stopped short of answering questions about the allegations, his initial denial, and the fact that Russini is now out of a job.
Since then, the Patriots have revealed that Vrabel will be away from the team on Saturday, the third day of the NFL Draft, as he undergoes counseling.
The timing of the treatment has raised eyebrows, given the fact that the Patriots have eight of their 11 picks scheduled for the third and final day of the draft.