One of the top coaches in the NFL and one of the leading insiders in the sport are profusely denying allegations that they’re having an affair after photos of them getting close were revealed.
A story published in Page Six revealed images of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini ‘holding hands and hugging’ at a luxury hotel in Arizona.
Sources told Page Six that the two – who are both married to other people – spent time together at the hotel’s outdoor patio on Saturday, March 28 before being spotted on a private rooftop ‘hugging at sunset and weaving their fingers together as they [stood] face-to-face’ before briefly dancing together.
Sources close to Vrabel and Russini say both people were at the hotel with other friends which were not visible in pictures.
In a statement to the outlet, Vrabel said, ‘These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.’
Russini told Page Six, ‘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.’
Mike Vrabel (L) and Dianna Russini (R) are denying suggestions that they’re having an affair
The rumors started after Page Six published photos of the two of them holding hands and hugging on a private rooftop at a ‘romantic getaway’ resort hotel in Sedona, Arizona
Russini says the photos misrepresent them while Vrabel called it an ‘innocent interaction’
Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor of The Athletic, told the outlet: “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. 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 Daily Mail has contacted Russini as well as Vrabel’s agent for further comment on the matter.
A source close to Russini told Page Six that she was at the hotel ‘during a hiking trip with two female pals.’
Meanwhile, a friend of Vrabel’s told the outlet that they and the coach drove to Sedona for the day with a third friend – and that they all drove back to their own hotel two hours away after hanging with Russini and her friends.
The rooftop where the images were taken features glass walls to provide panoramic views of the Brins Mesa mountain range.
These are only accessible from two-person bungalows that cost over $2,100 per evening.
While the sources connected to both parties claim the two weren’t alone, Page Six claims that three separate eyewitnesses informed the outlet that neither Vrabel or Russini were seen with anyone else.
When asked if Vrabel was with friends at the hotel, one eyewitness told the outlet, ‘No, he was with a girl.’
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, for over two decades and share two children
Meanwhile, Russini married fast food executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020
Per Page Six, Vrabel was at a scouting event at Arizona State University in Tempe on Friday before driving 125 miles to the adults-only hotel – which markets itself as a romantic getaway.
Russini and Vrabel have known each other for quite some time. When she was working at ESPN, Russini’s first NFL beat was to cover the Tennessee Titans – who were coached by Vrabel at the time.
Vrabel is married to his wife, Jen, who he met while they were both students at Ohio State. They have been wed for over 26 years and have two sons.
Meanwhile, Russini married Kevin Goldschmidt, an executive at fast food restaurant Shake Shack, in 2020. Together, they share two children.
