NFL Insider on ‘Public Thirst’ Over Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini: ‘Sadder Than I Ever Anticipated’

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport is weighing in on why the nature of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini’s relationship has become a hot topic.

“I don’t blame the media. I really don’t because the public thirst is there,” the NFL Network journalist, 46, said during a recent appearance on the “Between the Tackles” podcast. “The media isn’t getting people interested [in this story], they’re already interested in it. They’re feeding the beast.”

Rapoport continued, “Watching this play out in public is much sadder than I ever anticipated. I would not wish anybody to go through what everyone involved in this is going through.”

Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, made headlines last month after the pair — who are married to other people — were photographed holding hands at an Arizona resort in April. When the images first made headlines, told the New York Post, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

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

After seemingly downplaying their connection, another batch of photos were published via Page Six two weeks later that showed Vrabel and Russini seemingly kissing inside a New York City bar in 2020.

A third set of images published by TMZ showed the duo on the dock of a private boat rental company in Putnam County, Tennessee, in June 2021. At that time, Russini was pregnant with her and husband Kevin Goldschmidt’s first child. The couple share two sons: Michael, born in August 2021, and Joseph, born in October 2022.

Both Vrabel and Russini have denied having a romantic relationship.

In April, Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic after the outlet had an internal investigation amid the scandal.

Vrabel, for his part, told NFL reporters that he had conversations with his loved ones about the matter. (The coach who shares two children with wife Jen.)

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about: my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” he said in a press conference ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. “Those have been positive and productive. 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 distraction. What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward.”