Beloved NFL Coach Responds After ‘Scandalous’ Pics With Reporter Emerge

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is pushing back after photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini surfaced online, prompting chatter far beyond football.

The images, first published by Page Six, show Vrabel and the New York Times and The Athletic reporter in bathing suits near a pool. Other shots appear to show the two holding hands and hugging on the roof of a resort bungalow in Sedona, Arizona.

Vrabel flatly dismissed any insinuations.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini also responded, saying the images don’t tell the full story of what was happening.

“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.” Russini said.

New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ pic.twitter.com/xrdqqmgDUC

— Page Six (@PageSix) April 7, 2026

The Athletic backed its reporter as well, calling the framing of the photos off-base.

“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, said. “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 episode lands as Vrabel rides high on the field. He’s coming off a season that ended with a Super Bowl appearance and a major personal accolade.

Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year after leading New England’s turnaround, beating out a finalist group that included Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan, Jacksonville’s Liam Coen and Chicago’s Ben Johnson. He earned 19 of the 50 first-place votes and finished with 302 points.

It marked the second time Vrabel has won the award, after taking it home in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans. The honor also puts him in rare company as the seventh coach to win Coach of the Year with multiple franchises, joining Chuck Knox, Bill Parcells, Bruce Arians, Dan Reeves, Don Shula and George Allen.

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