The NFL media has mostly been silent on the private photos of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and insider Dianna Russini in Page Six. The pictures spotted the pair holding hands, hugging and lounging in a pool at a luxurious resort hotel in Sedona, Arizona.
NFL insider Albert Breer didn’t have a lot to say on the subject in his new column this week. But Breer offered a take on the situation Tuesday night while appearing on NBC Sports Boston.
“Yes, 100 percent,” answered Breer when asked if Vrabel has to address the photos to his players. “In every meeting room in that building, they have a sign that says, ‘make good decisions on and off the field.’
“You live by what your credo is. I think it becomes a credibility issue with the players. If you’re preaching accountability 365 days a year to a group of 24, 25, 26 year olds, and the first time you’re standing in front of them after something like this so public happens, and you’re not addressing it at all, and you’re pretending like nothing happened, and you’re talking about how you’re going to lift, and meet, and all that, they’re going to look at you sideways. They’re human beings too.
“You don’t think they’ve been texting about this the same way everybody has for the last week? Of course they have….
“If you are preaching accountability to them, you gotta be accountable for your own actions too. So, if I’m him, it’s the first thing I’m talking about.”
“Yes. 100 percent. In every meeting room in that building they have a sign that says “make good decisions on and off the field.” You
Will Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Address Dianna Russini Photos Again?
GettyNFL insider Albert Breer argued New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel must at least address the Dianna Russini situation with his players.
Breer was the second commentator to form the argument that Vrabel has to hold himself accountable on the Russini situation to at least his players. PFT Live Friday co-host Michael Holley issued a similar sentiment on NBC Sports Boston last week.
Since the release of the photos, Vrabel has commented on them one time, trying to laugh them off.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” he told The Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Vrabel will not address the media before the 2026 NFL Draft. While he was “front and center” at their pre-draft press conference last offseason, Patriots V.P. of player personnel Eliot Wolf answered questions during the team’s 2026 presser instead.
In his weekly column Tuesday, Breer wrote this on the Vrabel-Russini controversy:
“I don’t want to sit here and pretend I didn’t see the stories that came out last week about Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini,” wrote Breer. “I’ve known both for a long time. I like and respect both, and they’re both great at their jobs.
“I don’t have anything more to add other than I really feel for the family members involved who are going through it. And that this is way more of a media story than a football story—and, honestly, I’ve never seen it as part of my job to cover other sports media.”
Russini Resigns at The Athletic
GettyNFL insider Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic one week after the surfacing of private photos with her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Russini shared a similar initial reaction to the photos as Vrabel did. Additionally, in the immediate aftermath, The Athletic offered a statement of support for its top NFL insider.
On Tuesday, Russini resigned and posted her resignation letter on social media.
“When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that, I am grateful,” read the letter.
“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage that I am willing to accept.”
Despite her resignation, The Athletic’s Steven Ginsberg wrote in a staff memo the inquiry into Russini’s conduct will continue.
“When the situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation, and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation,” wrote Ginsberg.
“While our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign. We will continue a standards review of Dianna’s work that Mike Semel is leading.”
That review could lead to more information about any potential Vrabel-Russini relationship becoming public. That’s all the more reason for Vrabel to address the situation with his players first.
NFL Insider Speaks out on Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Amid Dianna Russini Controversy