Dianna Russini's Old Opinion Of Mike Vrabel Has Resurfaced

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 9:08 AM ET

With the NFL Draft roughly two weeks away, New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic's Dianna Russini have found themselves in a tricky situation.

Page Six reported Tuesday night that Russini and Vrabel were recently spotted together at the Ambiente, a luxurious hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The celebrity news outlet shared photos of them hugging and holding hands.

“A Page Six spy tells us that the pair — both married to other people — had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, before spending a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub,” their report states. “Our spy spotted Vrabel and Russini again that evening on the private rooftop of one of the hotel’s bungalows, which feature glass walls offering panoramic views of the state’s famed Red Rock formations.”

After this wild report was shared by Page Six, countless NFL fans went through Russini's old social media posts to see if they'd uncover any additional drama.

Back in March 2024, Russini talked about Vrabel's physical stature and how it could be intimidating to some NFL teams. This was after the Tennessee Titans fired him.

"I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel's physical build," Russini said. "That he's a very large human being. And can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor."

These remarks from Russini have resurfaced on social media this Wednesday.

Why was Mike Vrabel passed on this coaching cycle?

An anonymous GM tells @DMRussini that Vrabel's physical stature may have been a factor.

"He's a very large human being. And can be very intimidating to people in an organization."

More: https://t.co/EUS84yimLV pic.twitter.com/5YQOygHlEu
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 6, 2024

Russini and Vrabel respond to the allegations.

Vrabel released a statement to the New York Post, shutting down the "laughable" rumors about him and Russini.

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

Russini also tried to pour cold water on this situation.

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

We'll see if this wild situation takes a turn in the coming days.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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