New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has addressed photos of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini. The photos, published by the New York Post’s Page Six, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits by a pool.
The pictures also depict the coach and journalist holding hands and hugging on the roof of a resort bungalow in Sedona, Arizona.
Vrabel’s Response to the Photos
Vrabel told the Post that the photos show a ‘completely innocent interaction’. He added that any suggestion otherwise is laughable and that the matter doesn’t deserve any further response.
Russini stated that the photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. She added that, like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.
The Athletic’s Statement
The Athletic provided its own statement regarding the photos. Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, said that the photos are misleading and lack essential context.
Ginsberg stated that the interactions were public and in front of many people. He affirmed that Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and that they’re proud to have her at The Athletic.
Vrabel’s Recent Success
Vrabel is coming off a season in which he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and won NFL Coach of the Year.
- Vrabel won the award over Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald, San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen and Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson.
- It was the second time in Vrabel’s coaching career that he has won the award.
- He received 19 of the 50 first-place votes and had a total of 302 points.
Vrabel first won the award while leading the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
Vrabel is the seventh coach to ever win Coach of the Year for multiple franchises, joining Chuck Knox, Bill Parcells, Bruce Arians, Dan Reeves, Don Shula and George Allen.