The NFL has once again confirmed that it will not open an investigation into New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel under its personal conduct policy, following the release of a new set of photos with reporter Dianna Russini, according to Front Office Sports.
New photos add fuel to ongoing controversy
The situation took a new turn after images published by the New York Post showed Vrabel and Russini – who no longer works as an NFL reporter – sitting very close together at a New York City bar. The photos, which date back six years, were reportedly taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020, when Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans and Russini was still with ESPN.
These newly surfaced images add to an earlier batch released at the beginning of the month, showing the pair at an exclusive luxury hotel in Arizona, further intensifying media attention around the situation. This all comes just days after the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, per Associated Press, addressed the media publicly.
Amid the controversy, Russini resigned from her role as a lead NFL reporter at The Athletic, while Vrabel has reiterated that he remains fully focused on his job with the New England Patriots.
“We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction,” Vrabel said. “Those are comments and questions that I’ve answered with the team, and we’ll keep those private. I care deeply about this football team and am excited to coach them.
“I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus. What I can promise is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches – and most importantly, our fans – will get the best version of me moving forward.”
The latest batch of photos was published by Page Six on the same day the NFL Draft 2026 began, further fueling the media spotlight. Both Russini and Vrabel are married to other partners; the coach also has two sons with his wife, Jen.
According to reports from ESPN, Vrabel will not be present on the third day of the draft, as he is expected to travel out of state to seek personal counseling.
Despite the controversy, the Patriots head coach emphasized that the situation should not overshadow one of the most important events on the NFL calendar.
“I also don’t want to take away from the draft – this is an important time for our organization and for the excitement and joy these players will experience,” Vrabel said on April 21. “They’re beginning an incredible journey, one that should be celebrated as we welcome them to our team.”
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