Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini's scandalous affair took the NFL world by storm, with the prominent reporter ultimately resigning from The Athletic while both seek to reconcile with their partners
13:14 ET, 06 May 2026Updated 13:14 ET, 06 May 2026
Dianna Russini is reeling after news of her affair as affected her relationship with her husband and Mike Vrabel
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Dianna Russini is reeling after news of her affair as affected her relationship with her husband and Mike Vrabel(Image: Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The fallout of her affair with Mike Vrabel has been hard on Dianna Russini as she “genuinely loved” the New England Patriots head coach.
Last month, Vrabel and Russini — a prominent NFL reporter — were spotted holding hands and hugging at the adults-only Ambiente Resort in Sedona, Arizona. Both parties, each married to different people with children, denied any wrongdoing.
While Vrabel escaped NFL punishment, Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic as the story went viral. The Athletic initially publicly defended Russini, but investigations led her to resign from her role after she was unable to provide evidence to substantiate her original claims. Russini offered to have her bosses speak to Vrabel, but the company declined.
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The 43-year-old has remained silent since the allegations first emerged, aside from a short statement she posted on social media to announce her resignation. Vrabel, meanwhile, announced his intention to attend counseling during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hoping to shift the conversation and reframe the narrative, Russini is now seeking to give her side of the story in a tell-all interview. But the emotional toll is heavy; not only is she still reeling from the rapid implosion of her career, but she is also grappling with the loss of her connection to Vrabel.
A source told The Daily Mail: “Her marriage has taken a serious hit, and she’s also dealing with the loss of Mike, who she genuinely loved.”
Russini's husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, is reportedly reeling from the public nature of the controversy, which has put an immense strain on their union. The source added: “Her husband has felt sidelined for a long time, and this controversy might be what finally pushes things to a breaking point.
Mike Vrabel has attended counselling as he looks to reconcile with wife Jen
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Mike Vrabel has attended counselling as he looks to reconcile with wife Jen(Image: Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“At the same time, he's dealing with the embarrassment, still cares about her, and would want to find some way to fix things if he can. The emasculation has taken a toll, though.”
Despite the scandalous nature of the alleged affair, both Goldschmidt and Jen Vrabel, Mike’s wife, do not seem to have immediate plans to file for divorce. However, speaking out in an interview could lead to some blowback for Russini as she’d once again place her family in the limelight.
The source suggested Russini has contemplated speaking out for several weeks, adding: “She [Dianna] is making difficult decisions on talking or not, but she is leaning toward talking. She has to get to a better place; she doesn't want to exploit her family anymore negatively. If it is done, it has to be done right. That is where things stand right now.”
Meanwhile, the scandal has derailed Vrabel — and the Patriots’ — preparations for the 2026 NFL season. Last year, in his first campaign as head coach of the AFC East franchise, Vrabel turned the Patriots around from a 4-13 record to the Super Bowl.
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The Patriots' offseason program will continue with Rookie Minicamp this weekend, followed by OTAs from May 27 to June 11, and mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.