Dianna Russini Tweet From 2021 Resurfaces, Fueling Mike Vrabel Affair Rumors
An old tweet from former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini is fueling affair rumors between her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Last week, photos published in the New York Post showed Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging at a luxury hotel in Arizona.
After the pictures went viral, Russini and Vrabel both called the photos "misleading" and vehemently denied rumors of an affair. The journalist has been married to Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020 while the football coach and his wife Jennifer have been married since 1999.
Russini's Athletic editor Steven Ginsberg also came to their defense, telling NBC News that the photos lacked "essential context."
"These were public interactions in front of many people," Ginsberg said. "Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we're proud to have her at The Athletic."
Nevertheless, Russini resigned from the publication on Apr. 14, and Vrabel announced on Thursday, Apr. 23 that he would be seeking counseling in the wake of the scandal.
Later on Apr. 23, Page Six released photos that appeared to show Russini and Vrabel kissing at a bar in New York City in March 2020-seemingly confirming the alleged affair and sparking questions about the timeline of the pair's relationship.
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Shortly after the bombshell photos were released, fans found a tweet from Russini's dating back to 2021-referencing her now 4-year-old son who is also named Michael.
"Keep looking at my almost 4 day old son Michael while trying to figure out who are the best Michaels to ever play and coach in the NFL?," Russini wrote on X at the time.
Keep looking at my almost 4 day old son Michael while trying to figure out who are the best Michaels to ever play and coach in the NFL?
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 11, 2021
Four years later-fans are now viewing the post in an entirely new lens.
"This did not age well," wrote one user. "In hindsight we really should've picked up on this quicker." said another.
"She named her son Mike?? Omggg man," added a third. "This is diabolical." said a fourth.
RELATED: Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Breaks Silence on Dianna Russini Photo Scandal
Also on Apr. 23, TMZ obtained a photo of the pair at a casino in Biloxi, Mississippi shortly before midnight on Jan. 31, 2024.
Neither Russini or Vrabel have publicly addressed the release of the new photos.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 2:06 PM.