All the explosive photos of Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel: How the saga that rocked the NFL unfolded

NFL fans haven’t been capable to extremity talking astir Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel ever since Page Six released pictures of nan 2 holding hands and hugging astatine a edifice past month.

More headline-making photos, including a bid of cozy barroom snaps from six years ago, went viral successful consequent weeks arsenic nan ungraded intensified.

At nan clip nan 2020 photos were snapped, Vrabel was coaching nan Tennessee Titans, a squad Russini extensively covered arsenic an NFL newsman for ESPN.

Russini near ESPN successful 2023 to subordinate nan Athletic (a sports section of nan New York Times) and launched her and co-host Chase Daniel’s “Scoop City” podcast nan pursuing year.

As for Vrabel, he became nan New England Patriots coach successful 2025.

He has been married to woman Jen Vrabel since 1999, while Russini wed husband Kevin Goldschmidt successful 2020. Both couples person 2 children.

Below, Page Six breaks down nan afloat timeline of nan ungraded that has rocked nan NFL.

April 7, 2026: Russini and Vrabel edifice photos are published

Page Six published photographs connected April 7, 2026, of Russini and Vrabel astatine nan boutique Ambiente edifice successful Sedona, Arizona, nan erstwhile month.

In nan shots, taken connected March 28, 2026, nan duo lounged poolside and took a basking tub dip aft having meal together.

That evening, nan brace were photographed holding hands and hugging astatine sunset connected a backstage rooftop of 1 of nan hotel’s bungalows — and an eyewitness told america they concisely danced.

While aggregate eyewitnesses told Page Six that Vrabel and Russini were alone, nan 2 insisted they were joined by friends connected nan travel and astatine nan resort.

“The photos don’t correspond nan group of six group who were hanging retired during nan day,” Russini told Page Six successful a connection astatine nan time. “Like astir journalists successful nan NFL, reporters interact pinch sources distant from stadiums and different venues.”

The coach, for his part, said successful his ain statement, “These photos show a wholly guiltless relationship and immoderate proposal different is laughable. This doesn’t merit immoderate further response.”

A root adjacent to Vrabel — who was astatine an Arizona State University scouting arena successful Tempe, Arizona, 125 miles distant connected Friday, March 27 — claimed nan erstwhile NFL subordinate drove to Sedona for nan time pinch his pals and returned to his ain edifice aft spending clip pinch Russini and her friends.

Russini was connected a hiking travel successful Sedona pinch 2 female friends, according to an insider adjacent to nan sports reporter.

April 9, 2026: Russini returns to societal media

Russini returned to societal media to constitute a since-deleted tweet — unrelated to nan ungraded — connected April 9, 2026, amid rampant headlines.

She shared a nexus to an article published by her workfellow Mike Jones astir NFL replacement officials.

“The NFL informed its teams astir erstwhile they could expect to spot replacement officials visiting accommodation if a woody is not reached by adjacent month, erstwhile nan existent CBA pinch nan NFL Referees Association expires,” she wrote.

April 10, 2026: The New York Times originates Russini investigation

On April 10, 2026, Page Six reported that Russini had been sidelined by nan New York Times arsenic nan publication “began an investigation” into nan business and “review[ed her] coverage.”

“While nan evident behaviour successful nan photos raised questions for [the Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg] and activity astatine nan Athletic, an first reappraisal suggested nan images provided lacked context, specifically nan beingness of a larger group of friends,” a root told us.

“New specifications from nan Page Six study and accusation from nan investigation raised further concerns that are now being reviewed further. The investigation is ongoing.” 

April 14, 2026: Russini resigns from nan Athletic

Russini resigned from her role pinch nan Athletic 4 days later.

In her resignation missive to Ginsberg connected April 14, 2026, Russini insisted she “covered nan NFL pinch professionalism and dedication” passim her career.

“I guidelines down each communicative I person ever published. When nan Page Six point first appeared, The Athletic supported maine unequivocally, expressed assurance successful my activity and pridefulness successful my journalism. For that I americium grateful,” she continued.

“In nan days that followed, unfortunately, commentators successful various media person engaged successful self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from nan facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling guardant without respect for nan reappraisal process.”

Russini added that she had “no liking successful submitting to a nationalist enquiry that has already caused acold much harm than [she was] consenting to accept.”

She concluded, “Rather than allowing this to continue, I person decided to measurement speech now — earlier my existent statement expires connected June 30. I do truthful not because I judge nan communicative that has been constructed astir this episode, but because I garbage to lend it further oxygen aliases to fto it specify maine aliases my career.”

In a memo confirming Russini’s resignation, Ginsberg noted, “We will proceed a standards reappraisal of Dianna’s activity that [the Athletic’s Editorial Director for Standards and Editorial Quality] Mike Semel is leading.”

April 18, 2026: ESPN study drops — and NFL addresses nan scandal

As for nan NFL, nan statement reached a disciplining decision regarding Vrabel connected April 18, 2026.

ESPN reported astatine nan clip that “NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said nan NFL was not looking into nan New England Patriots caput coach’s behaviour arsenic portion of its individual behaviour policy.”

The argumentation states that players, coaches and executives must debar “conduct detrimental to nan integrity of and nationalist assurance successful nan National Football League.”

Their connection came connected nan heels of ESPN’s Ben Strauss publishing a lengthy report connected nan fallout from Page Six’s photos.

He claimed Russini said pinch a situation communicator, Times Company main executive serviceman Meredith Kopit Levien and Vrabel erstwhile she recovered retired astir nan pictures.

April 21, 2026: Vrabel yet breaks his silence

Vrabel spoke to reporters astir nan “personal and backstage matter” for nan first clip during a pre-NFL Draft property convention connected April 21, 2026.

“I understand I could person addressed you sooner, but it was important to maine I person a speech pinch nan players, which I did yesterday very candidly, arsenic we began our off-season program, which everyone is excited to beryllium a portion of,” he began, adding that he’d besides had “difficult” but “positive and productive” talks astir nan business pinch his family.

“We judge successful bid to beryllium successful connected and disconnected nan field, you person to make bully decisions. That includes me. That starts pinch me. We ne'er want our actions to negatively impact nan team. We ne'er want to beryllium nan origin of a distraction.”

Vrabel’s statement concluded, “I attraction profoundly astir this shot team, and I’m excited to coach them. I besides cognize that I’m gonna onslaught each time pinch humility and focus. What I tin committedness you is my family, this organization, this team, nan staff, nan coaches and nan fans astir importantly, will get nan champion type of maine going forward.”

April 22, 2026: More edifice photos travel to light

On April 22, 2026, Page Six published much exclusive photos of Russini and Vrabel astatine nan Sedona edifice — this time, having meal together.

Sources adjacent to Russini and Vrabel alleged their friends were besides coming for nan greeting meal.

However, aggregate eyewitnesses told america that nan duo ate unsocial connected March 28.

One insider claimed that Russini and Vrabel attempted to spell incognito while stepping astir nan luxury edifice passim nan day.

“One of them would spell ahead, and past nan different would hold for a fewer seconds aliases so, and past they would travel a fewer steps ahead,” nan root alleged, claiming nan 2 “really didn’t want to beryllium seen stepping together.”

April 23, 2026: Vrabel seeks counseling

Vrabel released a connection to ESPN astatine 12:10 a.m. connected April 23, 2026 — hours up of nan 2026 NFL Draft — revealing he would not beryllium coming for Day 3.

“I promised my family, this statement and this squad that I was going to springiness them nan champion type of maine that I tin perchance springiness them. In bid to do so, I person committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” he explained.

“This is thing that I person fixed a batch of thought to and is thing I would counsel a subordinate to do if I was counseling them. I person ever wanted to lead by example, and I judge this is what I person to do to beryllium nan champion husband, begetter and coach that I perchance tin be.”

The erstwhile jock concluded, “This is not an easy point for maine to admit, but it is 1 that I cognize will make maine a amended person. I admit nan support that everyone has fixed maine and committedness a stronger resoluteness arsenic a result.”

Vrabel’s connection came connected nan heels of Page Six reaching retired for remark connected recently uncovered PDA-filled photos of himself and Russini successful 2020.

April 23, 2026: PDA pics from 2020 released

On April 23, 2026, Page Six published recently uncovered pictures of Russini and Vrabel astatine nan Tribeca Tavern successful New York City six years ago.

They appeared touchy-feely successful nan March 11, 2020, shots, which showed them sitting intimately together astatine nan dimly lit bar.

“They were kissing and they were each complete each other,” an eyewitness told Page Six. “They were having a glorious time. They were [giving each other] pecks, a bunch of pecks, constantly.”

The ex-linebacker was photographed pinch his manus connected Russini’s limb and arm, and our eyewitness saw Russini’s legs “in betwixt [Vrabel’s] legs” during nan “hole-in-the-wall” outing.

April 23, 2026: TMZ releases photos of Vrabel and Russini successful 2024

TMZ obtained a photograph connected April 23, 2026, of Russini and Vrabel astatine nan Beau Rivage Casino successful Biloxi, Mississippi, connected Jan. 31, 2024.

In nan image — taken “shortly earlier midnight,” according to nan outlet — nan duo were each smiles.

The outlet, whose insider observed nan brace looked “quite comfortable together,” noted that nan 2024 Senior Bowl took spot an hr distant from nan casino successful Mobile, Alabama, connected Feb. 3.

April 23, 2026: The Patriots guidelines by Vrabel

A spokesperson for nan New England Patriots released a statement to Page Six connected April 23, 2026, penning that nan squad “fully support[s] Mike Vrabel’s determination to prioritize his family first, arsenic good arsenic his ain well-being” amid his admittance astir seeking counseling.

“Mike has been unfastened pinch america astir his committedness to being nan champion type of himself for his family, this squad and our fans, and we respect nan steps he is taking to travel done connected that commitment,” nan statement added of Vrabel, who was hired arsenic caput coach for nan squad successful January 2025.

They stressed their “confiden[ce] successful nan activity and communication” Vrabel had established pinch “personnel staff” pre-NFL Draft.

April 23, 2026: Vrabel changes his tune

During an April 23, 2026, pre-draft presser, Vrabel denied being “dismissive” by initially referring to his and Russini’s hand-holding pictures arsenic “laughable.”

“That’s a backstage and individual matter. I don’t deliberation that those comments … I deliberation that was, you know, I’m ever gonna effort to protect [my] family,” he explained. “I would ne'er beryllium dismissive, but I deliberation my family and this shot squad are nan astir important thing.”

The somber coach remained tight-lipped astir nan scandal passim nan property convention — and, regarding his planned absence connected Saturday, April 25, said, “My family needs maine this play and that’s wherever I’ll be.”

“I return accountability for my actions and for nan actions that caused distraction to nan group that I attraction astir about — my family, this shot team, nan statement and nan fans,” he added.

“My erstwhile actions don’t meet nan standards that I clasp myself to, they don’t — and I deliberation it’s champion for nan 2 astir important things successful my life — my family and my shot squad — is for america to return nan basal steps to activity together and to get done what I told them I’d springiness them, which is nan champion type of me.”

April 23, 2026: Vrabel attends Day 1 of nan NFL Draft

Vrabel was coming for Day 1 of nan NFL Draft connected April 23, 2026, erstwhile nan Patriots selected Utah violative tackle Caleb Lomu arsenic nan 28th wide prime successful nan first round.

In an awkward video shared via X, Vrabel said to nan caller squad personnel complete nan telephone — and Lomu asked really he was doing.

“I’m doing great, man. Congratulations. We’re excited to person you,” Vrabel replied astatine nan time. “I dream you’re pinch your family and you’re enjoying this and we can’t hold to get you present and springiness you a chance to thief this shot team.”

April 23, 2026: Russini deletes her societal media account

Russini deleted her X account connected April 23, 2026.

By that evening, her contented was nary longer visible connected nan societal media platform.

Her Instagram relationship remains progressive but is group to private.