There Are Now Even More Questions For Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini To Answer

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There Are Now Even More Questions For Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini To Answer

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated May 6, 2026 7:31 PM ET

Another day, another update on the Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini scandal.

The latest update is a juicy one.

TMZ Sports reports that in the summer of 2021, Vrabel and Russini went on a private boating accident. Russini, who is married with two children, was pregnant at the time with her first kid. She ended up naming him Michael.

"The NFL duo booked the vessel in Putnam County, Tennessee back in June 2021 ... according to a source with direct knowledge, who also says the then-Tennessee Titans head coach and the journalist were the only people onboard for their 2-to-3-hour rental," they reported.

"The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child. Documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show both signed the company waiver before heading out on a lake ... and our source says there was no visible PDA before they departed."

At this point, the evidence is pointing in a pretty clear direction: Vrabel and Russini have had a personal relationship for more than five years. This happened in 2021, six years ago. In 2020, they were spotted at a bar in New York City, according to a report from TMZ Sports.

While both Vrabel and Russini have said very little about their relationship, questions need to be answered now.

Vrabel, Russini owe it to everyone at this point

Vrabel and Russini owe it to everyone at this point to answer the following questions:

What exactly was the nature of your relationship?
How long, exactly, has this been going on?
How often would you see each other?
How did this impact Russini's reporting as an NFL insider?

Russini would often speak glowingly of Vrabel during interviews. The Athletic, her former employer, is now investigating all of her work. Perhaps ESPN, which employed Russini prior to The Athletic hiring her, should too.

It's a mess.

But Vrabel and Russini can help clear it by answering some direct questions. Of course, it's doubtful that they will.

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

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