Remarkable video footage has emerged showing a heavily-pregnant Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel walking together along a dock in Putnam County, Tennessee, before boarding a private boat that they allegedly hired for a two-to-three-hour trip alone in June 2021. The clip, obtained by the Daily Mail, captures Russini, then an ESPN reporter covering Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans, strolling a few steps ahead of the coach, both dressed in T-shirts and shorts. As she turns to speak to him, her pregnancy is clearly visible. A source with knowledge of the rental told TMZ that Vrabel and Russini were the only people aboard, a claim supported by a signed company waiver reviewed by the outlet. On the day of the trip, according to TMZ, both were reportedly hesitant to be photographed with fans: Russini declined a photo, while Vrabel agreed only on the condition that the image not be posted online.
The timeline of allegations
The newly released video is the latest piece of a timeline that stretches back more than five years. The first public signs of a relationship between Vrabel and Russini emerged in March 2020, when the New York Post published photos of the pair at Tribeca Tavern in New York City, where an eyewitness said they appeared to share a kiss and were holding hands, describing them as having a “glorious time” in the nearly empty bar. At that time, Vrabel had been married to his wife Jen since 1999, and the couple have two adult sons, Tyler and Carter. Russini, then an NFL insider, married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt in September 2020.
In June 2021, just months after her wedding, the boat trip in Putnam County took place. Video now shows Russini visibly pregnant. She gave birth to her first son, named Mike, in August 2021. TMZ has reported that Russini has said the child was named after her brother, Michael Russini, not after Vrabel. The couple later had a second son, Joey, in October 2022.
The scandal reignited in March 2026 when the New York Post published photographs of Vrabel and Russini at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona. The images showed them hugging and lounging poolside. Further photos from the same resort showed the pair having breakfast together. Some reports suggested they were dining alone; others said they were with a group of friends. Both Vrabel and Russini initially denied any wrongdoing: Vrabel called the interaction “innocent,” and Russini said the photos lacked context and depicted public interactions with a group.
In the weeks that followed, more images surfaced. The New York Post published additional pictures from the Arizona resort, as well as others allegedly showing the two kissing at the New York bar in March 2020. In January 2024, the Daily Mail published photographs of Vrabel and Russini together at a casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
For Vrabel, the fallout has extended into his family life and his professional role as head coach of the New England Patriots. His wife, Jen, is reportedly struggling with the public nature of the scandal. For Russini’s husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, sources have described him as feeling “emasculated, embarrassed, and sidelined” by the situation. Unconfirmed reports have emerged that Goldschmidt demanded DNA tests for his children, though that claim has been disputed.
Apology, counselling, and team response
In April 2026, as the story intensified, Vrabel addressed the media and apologised for his “actions,” while stopping short of explicitly admitting to an affair. He announced he would miss the third day of the NFL Draft to undergo counselling with his family. “I understand that there are questions, but I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about, my family, this football team, the organisation and our fans,” Vrabel said before the first round of the draft. “That’s going to start, that has started, and that’ll continue this weekend and it’ll continue for however long it takes for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible. My priorities are my family and this football team — and in that order — and there’s a balance there that I am going to create. My family needs me this weekend and that’s where I’ll be.”
The NFL has stated that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behaviour. Meanwhile, The Athletic, where Russini worked until her recent resignation, launched an internal investigation into the nature of her relationship with Vrabel and her reporting. Executive editor Steven Ginsberg addressed the matter during a late-April staff meeting, admitting his messaging could have been better. The investigation, led by standards and editorial quality editor Mike Semel, is expected to be lengthy, according to Front Office Sports. The Athletic had initially defended Russini, with Ginsberg saying the photos were misleading, but later Russini resigned. Her contract was due to expire in August 2026.
Within the Patriots organisation, quarterback Drake Maye has publicly supported his head coach. Speaking on Wednesday after the Truist Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte, Maye said: “No, I don’t” when asked if the controversy would be a distraction. “I mean, he’s our head coach. I think he’s done a great job of talking to us and talking us through it. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and getting ready.” Maye called Vrabel “a great human being” and insisted the off-field issues would not affect the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.
