NFL insider Dianna Russini addressed a point of contention in her marriage just months before controversial photos emerged of her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
During an appearance on the Stugotz and Company radio show in February, Russini, 43, said that her mother had no problem recently telling her that her “marriage is falling apart.”
“He looks good, he looks really good,” Russini’s mother said about son-in-law Kevin Goldschmidt.
Russini’s mother said, “You know, I’m starting to think he’s got a girlfriend. And you know what, good for him. He looks good, he’s successful. His wife’s never around. You love this football thing. That’s why he looks good.”
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Russini and Goldschmidt, an executive for Shake Shack, got married in 2020 and share sons Michael, 4, and Joey, 3.
“I went right back at her. I said, ‘Why would you say that to me right now while I’m on a trip? That my husband has a girlfriend?’” Russini continued.
Russini said her mother was just “trying to keep you on your toes.”
“I don’t need to be kept on my toes! I need help!” Russini yelled. “It’s so messed up.”
Russini admitted that her mother managed to get things “in my head” about her husband’s potential infidelity.
“I’m like, ‘That one girl in his office is really pretty. Shoot,’” she said with a laugh.
Russini suggested she should send Goldschmidt some “naked” pictures of herself, but joked, “He’d probably write back, ‘I don’t want that. Who wants that? Nobody.’”
Russini and Vrabel, 50, were seen linking hands, sunbathing and sharing a hot tub at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, in pictures posted by Page Six on Tuesday, April 7. The outlet reported the photos were taken two weeks prior.
Shortly after their publication, both Russini and Vrabel, who is also married, denied anything untoward was going on.
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“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini told Page Six. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Vrabel issued his own statement to the outlet, saying, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini’s boss, Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, defended his reporter in a separate statement.
“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” he said. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
