In a story that's been making waves across the NFL landscape, new footage has surfaced showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter Diana Russini renting a boat in Tennessee back in 2021—at a time when Russini was seven months pregnant. The video, shared with Boston 25 News by TMZ Sports, adds another layer to an already intriguing off-field narrative.
At the time, Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, a role he held from 2018 through the 2023 season before making the move to New England. The boat rental footage is just the latest in a series of revelations that have captured the attention of the sports world.
This development comes on the heels of Vrabel's decision to skip Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday, opting instead to seek "counseling." The move followed the publication of photos by the New York Post's Page Six, which showed Vrabel and Russini together in a secluded New York City bar in 2020—six years before the pair were spotted holding hands, embracing, and sharing time in a pool and hot tub at a Sedona, Arizona resort. Those Sedona photos, released by Page Six, were reportedly taken just before the annual NFL meetings kicked off in Phoenix on March 29.
According to the report, witnesses described Vrabel and Russini as being "all over each other" and "kissing" during their time together. The timeline has raised eyebrows, particularly given Vrabel's high-profile role as the head coach of a storied franchise like the Patriots.
Despite the off-field chatter, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye expressed confidence in his head coach. Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday following the Truist Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte, Maye called Vrabel "a great human being" and downplayed the potential for distraction, saying he doesn't believe the situation will impact the defending AFC champions as they prepare for the upcoming season.
As this story continues to develop, the sports community is watching closely. For now, the focus remains on how Vrabel and the Patriots will navigate the offseason—both on and off the field.