The Vrabel-Russini boating excursion is reminiscent of a famous National Enquirer photo of doomed Democrat presidential candidate Gary Hart getting caught in 1987 on a vessel called Monkey Business with his mistress Donna Rice in his lap.
TMZ on Wednesday revealed new photos showing Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini boating alone five years ago just two months before she gave birth to a baby she named Michael.
The outlet’s discovery helps confirm speculation the NFL star and curvy reporter were involved in an affair that has been ongoing for years.
The TMZ report contains documents with signatures of both the now-Patriots coach and then-ESPN reporter showing they rented a boat for two to three hours in Putnam County, Tennessee in June 2021.
The outlet reported that the duo was “cautious about photos being taken,” with Russini refusing to take photos with staff, and Vrabel only allowing one photo to be taken – with a request not to post it publicly.
Podcaster Tony Farmer says the timing of their secret coupling now raises a possible legal claim that the married Russini was tampering with insider player-trade information when the also-married Vrabel was coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Russini may have “played a role in helping the Titans acquire Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons by cooling his trade market” and the boat ride could have been a “celebration” of the trade, Farmer says.
“Did Mike Vrabel take Dianna Russini on a boat to thank her for helping him acquire Julio Jones?” Farmer posits on X.
Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBC – who Farmer credits with the Jones speculation – reports that the betting markets are increasing the chances Vrabel will soon be out as Pats coach.
In just a week the markets show the likelihood of his surviving the fallout from his apparent affair has dropped by 13 points.
“You can actually feel the tide starting to turn on Mike Vrabel right now,” Farmer said. “The boat rental story hit like a 4th quarter interception to completely change momentum in a game.”
Just a month ago the New York Post published photos of Vrabel and Russini embracing and holding hands at an Arizona resort in March.
Since then, more pix of the two have leaked, including one showing them kissing at a New York bar in 2020 and another of them at a casino following his firing from the Tennessee in 2024.
Russini has since resigned from her job at The Athletic and Vrabel has reported having “difficult conversations” with his wife of 25 years – despite both of them claiming they ever shared any intimacy.
Patriots players are now being asked about the Vrabel-Russini affair, Florio said.
Quarterback Drake Maye denied Wednesday that Vrabel’s off-field issues will be a distraction for the team.
“He’s done a great job of talking us through it,” Maye told the AP without explaining what he meant by “it.”
Russini may be ready to talk about “it.” TMSPN.com reports that “sources close to Russini told the Daily Mail a range of TV programs including Good Morning America and 60 Minutes has been competing to land the Russini exclusive, and that the former NFL insider is leaning toward going on the record.”
