New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is going viral after leaked photos show him hugging and holding hands with married New York Times reporter Dianna Russini.
Russini is the New York Times‘ top NFL reporter. The NY Times forbids reporters from having relationships with people they cover.
Exclusive photos published by Page Six show Vrabel and Russini hugging on a bungalow rooftop while enjoying the panoramic view of a mountain range in Sedona, Arizona last month.
Rooftops are only accessible from the private bungalows, which cost up to $2,160 a night. They were also seen in a hotel hot tub.
“The pair… had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, before spending a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub,” Page Six wrote.
New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel https://t.co/kgk6uoumOU pic.twitter.com/J2dtb6HuyA
— New York Post (@nypost) April 7, 2026
When contacted by Page Six, both Russini and Vrable said they were “with six friends” who weren’t visible in the photos.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response,” said Vrabel.
Russini said the photos don’t tell the full story:
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” she explained. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
However, three eyewitnesses told Page Six that they did not see anyone else with Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43.
Asked if the coach visited the hotel with a group of friends, one eyewitness said: “No, he was with a girl.”
The photos taken at various times during the day only show Vrabel and Russini together. No one else was with them.
Vrabel is married to Jen Vrabel since 1999. They have two sons.
Russini is married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020. They have 2 sons, ages 4 and 2.
The news comes after Vrabel released star wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the team after the Patriots came up short against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX in February.
Diggs is still an unsigned NFL free agent with 8 children to feed.
Vrabel was hired as head coach of the 6x Super Bowl champions on January 12, 2025.
He previously served as coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
Vrabel played in the NFL for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. He won 3 Super Bowls as a player with the Patriots.
Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2025.
