Dianna Russini deleted her X account on April 23 after new photos surfaced showing her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. This follows a media firestorm regarding their previous interactions at a luxury resort in Arizona.
Key points
Dianna Russini deleted her X account on April 23.
New photos of her with Mike Vrabel surfaced on the same day.
The photos date back to 2020 and were taken at a luxury resort.
Russini and Vrabel have faced media scrutiny over their relationship.
Mentioned in this story
Dianna RussiniMike VrabelNew England PatriotsArizona
Dianna Russini; Mike VrabelCredit: Amy Sussman/Getty; Wesley Hitt/Getty
Dianna Russini; Mike Vrabel
Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty; Wesley Hitt/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
An X account belonging to Dianna Russini was no longer active as of Thursday, April 23
Earlier that day, photos of Russini and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a bar in 2020 emerged
The former Athletic reporter has been at the center of a media firestorm in recent weeks after a batch of photos published April 7 showed her hugging and holding hands with Vrabel at a luxury resort in Arizona
The X account belonging to Dianna Russini has been scrubbed as of Thursday, April 23, the same day a new series of photos featuring the former Athletic reporter with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel dating back to 2020 emerged.
Dianna Russini deleted her X account following the emergence of new photos with Mike Vrabel, which sparked a media controversy.
What photos led to the controversy involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel?
Photos from 2020 showing Dianna Russini hugging and holding hands with Mike Vrabel at a luxury resort in Arizona triggered the controversy.
When did the photos of Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel surface?
The new photos of Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel emerged on April 23, 2023.
What is the background of the relationship between Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel?
Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel have been at the center of media scrutiny due to their interactions, including hugging and holding hands, which raised questions about their relationship.
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Russini and Vrabel, who are separately married, denied any wrongdoing to Page Six following the April 7 release of the images.
"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," said Russini, who married husband Kevin Goldschmidt, a Shake Shack executive, in September 2020.
Dianna Russini on the NFL sidelines in March 2020Credit: Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty
Dianna Russini on the NFL sidelines in March 2020
Credit: Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty
Russini, 43, and Goldschmidt have two sons together.
In the wake of the first batch of photos being released, The New York Times reported April 11 that The Athletic, a Times-owned outlet, was launching an investigation. Russini resigned from her position days later on April 14.
Vrabel, who is entering his second season as the Patriots' head coach, took "accountability" for his behavior after the release of Thursday's photos, which came hours before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft.
"I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about," Vrabel, 50, told reporters. "My family, this football team, the organization and the fans."
The former NFL linerbacker-turned-coach will miss the third and final day of this year's draft on Saturday, April 25 as he seeks counseling — a move the Patriots "fully support."
"The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being. Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment," the team told PEOPLE in a statement Thursday.
"We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and [Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel] Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend."
Vrabel has been married to wife Jen Vrabel since 1999. They have two sons together.
