Ex-ESPN Host: Patriots ‘Fooling Themselves' by Ignoring Mike Vrabel Situation

The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini saga doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon.

As soon as fans wrap their head around the latest development, a new set of photos or allegations seems to pop up.

This time, it was the revelation that the duo took a boating trip together back in 2021 when Russini was pregnant with her first son, Michael, with husband Kevin Goldschmidt.

TMZ posted a video of the two at a marina in Tennessee during that time when Vrabel was head coach of the Tennessee Titans, along with a boat rental agreement, which both had signed.

That incident sparked a pretty fiery reaction from former ESPN host Jemele Hill, who warned the New England Patriots things will probably only get worse from here for Vrabel, who hasn't been disciplined by the NFL or the Pats, and implied they were doing themselves a disservice by acting like Vrabel is innocent.

"I wrote this a couple weeks ago for @TheAtlantic, the Patriots are fooling themselves if they think this story is just going to go away," Hill wrote on X. "Now that it's crossed over into tabloid territory, they're not only going to be digging through the crates, but following his every move from here on out."

The boating incident is just the latest leak in what's being called "the Russini files" after photos of Vrabel and the former Athletic insider holding hands at a hotel were published by Page Six.

More photos came out showing Vrabel and Russini sharing breakfast together - alone - at the same hotel, and other photos came out weeks later showing the two kissing at a New York City bar.

Vrabel has disclosed he's seeking counseling after the Russini news became public, and both his wife, Jenn, and Russini's husband are still with their respective spouses.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 5:21 PM.