A year after Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were spotted kissing in an NYC bar, the pair reportedly rented a private boat together — just months before she gave birth to her first child.
In June 2021, the NFL coach and former ESPN reporter rented a boat for two to three hours in Putnam County, Tennessee, a source with direct knowledge told TMZ.
Documents obtained by the outlet show Vrabel and Russini — who were allegedly the only people on the boat — both signed a waiver before boarding the vessel.
The outlet reported that the duo was “cautious about photos being taken” with Russini refusing to take photos with staff, and Vrabel only allowing one photo to be taken — with a request not to post it publicly.
Reps for Vrabel and Russini did not immediately return Page Six’s requests for comment Wednesday.
According to TMZ, Mike Vrabel rented a boat with Dianna Russini in 2021. He’s seen above taking a snapshot with boat rental company staff. TMZSports.com
The duo both signed a waiver for the rental, as seen in photos obtained by TMZ. TMZSports.com
The rental for for approximately 2-3 hours. TMZSports.com
At the time, Russini was pregnant with her first child with husband Kevin Goldschmidt, whom she married in 2020. Months later, on Aug. 7, 2021, she gave birth to her first son, also named Michael.
Last month, Page Six released exclusive photos of Vrabel and Russini embracing and holding hands at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, in March.
A spy told Page Six that during the March getaway, the duo had breakfast at the hotel restaurant patio around 10:30 a.m.
Then they spent about an hour together at the pool and lounging in a hot tub, per the eyewitness, before being seen that evening on the private rooftop of a resort bungalow.
The New England Patriots head coach — who has been married to Jen Vrabel since 1999 — and the reporter denied any wrongdoing and said they were joined by several other pals at the resort.
The alleged boat rental came a year after Dianna Russini and Vrabel were spotted in a New York City bar by an eyewitness (as seen above). © Page Six
They were “kissing and they were all over each other,” according to the Page Six spy. © Page Six
Scandal erupted last month after Page Six published photos of Vrabel and Russini embracing at the Arizona resort (above.) © Page SIx
Vrabel told Page Six that the photos “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable” and said it “doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini, meanwhile, said that 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.”
The reporter was sidelined by the New York Times before resigning from her post as senior NFL insider at the Athletic.
Snapshots of Vrabel and Russini kissing in a New York City bar in 2020 — years before being spotted in Arizona — were subsequently published by Page Six on April 23.
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told us, noting that Vrabel “had a ring on.”
They were also snapped poolside (as pictured above), though they denied wrongdoing in statements to Page Six. © Page SIx
Russini (above in 2017) insisted others had joined them on the outing.
Getty Images for ESPN
Vrabel (seen above at a press conference last month) denied wrongdoing, but later admitted his “previous actions don’t meet the standards that I hold myself to.” AP
Vrabel announced he would step away from the Patriots the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling and focus on his family and marriage, stating that his “previous actions don’t meet the standards that I hold myself to” during a NFL press conference that day. He added that his “family needs me this weekend and that’s where I’ll be.”
Following the release of new photos, Russini deleted her social media accounts. Vrabel and his wife, meanwhile, headed to Park City, Utah, where they are said to own a home, for an emergency 24-hour marriage summit.
Russini was offered a new job by her pal Jon “Stugotz” Weiner amid the drama.
“I did say if the Athletic fired her, I would hire her,” he said during a recent episode of his “Stugotz and Company” podcast.
“They didn’t fire her,” he said. “She stepped down from the Athletic, and the offer holds forever.”