The NFL Is Taking A Risk With Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Scandal
With the NFL schedule set to release this Thursday night, there's a chance teams make fun of New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.
On April 7, Page Six shared photos of Vrabel and Russini holding hands at a hotel in Arizona. A few weeks later, Page Six released photos from March 2020 that show them spending time at a bar. TMZ later reported that Russini and Vrabel rented a boat in Tennessee back in June 2021.
"The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child. Documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show both signed the company waiver before heading out on a lake … and our source says there was no visible PDA before they departed," TMZ reported. "We're also told Vrabel and Russini appeared cautious about photos being taken, and while she declined to pose at all with the staff … Vrabel agreed to snap one pic, but allegedly asked that no images be publicly posted."
Although there's been a ton of controversy surrounding Vrabel and Russini, it doesn't sound like the NFL is too worried about it.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, the NFL won't review teams' schedule release videos for jokes about Russini and Vrabel.
"The annual schedule release is the one day of the year when NFL teams are unofficially allowed to mock each other. With TMZ Sports and the New York Post still on the warpath, you'd think the league would step in to try to declare the Vrabel scandal off-limits. Right?" McCarthy wrote. "Wrong. The NFL is taking the opposite approach, sources tell Front Office Sports. The league is not reviewing videos in advance. Instead, clubs will continue to control the content of their memes and videos from start to finish. The young, aggressive, social media wags at all 32 clubs will be free to mock Vrabel and the Patriots if they wish."
That's a bold strategy.
Will Mike Vrabel coach this season?
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already said Vrabel won't be investigated to see if he violated the league's personal conduct policy.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have shown Vrabel nothing but support this offseason.
"The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel's decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being," the team said prior to the start of the NFL Draft. "Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment."
Barring a sudden change of heart, Vrabel is on track to coach the Patriots this upcoming season.
Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 9:46 AM.