The Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga just got a new wrinkle, and it’s one that reaches back years. TMZ Sports has obtained documents showing the NFL coach and sports journalist rented a private boat together in Putnam County, Tennessee in June 2021—just the two of them for a 2-to-3-hour outing on the water.
What makes the timing notable? Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child. She’d married Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020, and would give birth later that summer. Vrabel, meanwhile, has been married to his wife Jen since 1999 and they share two children together.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the boat trip, both signed waivers before heading out. There was no visible public display of affection before departure, and Russini declined to pose for photos with staff. Vrabel agreed to one picture but allegedly requested that no images be made public—a detail that speaks volumes about the nature of the outing.
This revelation adds another chapter to a relationship timeline that’s been unfolding in real time over the past month. Speculation ignited when the two were photographed looking cozy at an Arizona boutique resort, followed by other surfaced images showing them gambling at a casino in 2024 and kissing at a bar in 2020. A week after the June 2021 boat trip, Russini posted an Instagram photo seemingly of Kevin on a New Jersey beach, captioning it Lucky to have great people to spend this holiday with this July.
The context matters: Russini has since resigned from The Athletic amid the scandal. Vrabel has vowed to be a better person for his family and his current role with the Patriots. Neither has responded to requests for comment about the boat trip, and Russini has remained largely silent since stepping away from her position. What unfolds next—and whether more details surface—remains to be seen.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.