Photos showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel appearing to kiss former New York Times reporter Dianna Russini have surfaced, and social media users are laying into them both. The newly released photos come a week after Russini announced her resignation from the famed publication and hours after it was announced that Vrabel would miss day three of the NFL draft to attend counseling.

Photos Show Mike Vrabel Smooching Dianna Russini In A New York City Bar

Photos shared by Page Six on April 23 show Vrabel, 50, touching Russini and kissing her inside a New York City bar in March 2020. One photo shows Vrabel’s hand (with his wedding ring on) touching Russini’s arm, while the other two show the former NFL player leaning over Russini to kiss her.

“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” a source told the outlet. “He had a ring on.” According to sources, the timing of Vrabel and Russini’s 2020 outing couldn’t have been more unfortunate. At the time, Vrabel, who wed his wife, Jen, in 1999, was coaching the Titans, while Russini was six months away from saying “I Do” to her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt.

Mike Vrabel Will Miss Day Three Of The NFL Draft To Attend Marriage Counseling

Before the new photos were shared online, Vrabel had already been in the headlines after revealing he would miss a portion of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling.

“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel told ESPN. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend.”

Continuing, Vrabel revealed he had given much thought to the idea of counseling, later adding that he’d “advise a player to do” the same thing if they were in his position.

Mike Vrabel And Russini Spotted Getting Cozy In An Arizona Resort

Speculation about the nature of Vrabel and Russini’s relationship began when photos of the pair at an Arizona resport were went viral. In the pictures, Vrabel and Russini are seen holding hands and hugging, while another shows them lying out by the pool.

Russini dismissed the photos at first, stating that she and Vrabel were there with a group. Vrabel, meanwhile, called the pictures “laughable” after saying the moment was “completely innocent.”

A source said that Vrabel and Russini’s stay at an Arizona resort also included a private night atop the establishment’s roof. There, the pair gathered into one of the luxury bungalows, which go for $2,100 a night.

As the commentary continued to grow, Russini stepped down from her position at The New York Times’ sports division, The Athletic.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” the letter read. “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. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.”

Social Media Users Tear Into Vrabel After New Photos Emerge

Social media is having a field day with the newly surfaced photos of Vrabel and Russini, with many torching the NFL coach over his alleged lack of judgment.

“D-mn, this has been a long a** affair they’ve had,” someone wrote, while another said, “You can just call it a “second life” at that point.”

“So she was cheating when she walked down the aisle?” another wrote. “That’s some real dead inside bs.”

“The visible wedding ring is really just the cherry on top,” someone else posted on Reddit, leading another to write, “[Russini] may need to get paternity test on their kids. This is bad.”

Vrabel Addresses Controversy

According to a previous report from The Blast, before the latest photos were shared, Vrabel addressed the media and admitted to having “difficult conversations” with people closest to him.

“In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team, never want to be the cause of distraction,” he said.