Patriots Tried To Stop New York Post From Releasing Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Pics, ‘Put Pressure’

New England Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel and longtime NFL reporter, Dianna Russini have been under fire for quite some time now. To recap, it all started when Mike and Dianna’s alleged PDA photos from a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona went viral after Page Six of the New York Post published them on April 7, 2026. If the reports are believed to be true, the snaps in question, which featured the duo holding hands, hugging, and lounging together in a hot tub, were taken a couple of days earlier, on March 28, 2026.

One of the reasons why their pictures garnered the attention of both the media and netizens so quickly is that Dianna and Mike are both currently married to their respective spouses. As the story continues to grow, a new report suggests the Patriots tried to stop the Post from publishing it.

The New England Patriots tried to stop the New York Post from publishing the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini story

Ever since the now-viral photos by Page Six came out, the internet has been convinced that Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel had an inappropriate relationship. Though it is worth noting that the duo have refuted the claims. Now, in the latest twist amid the ongoing controversy, it seems that the Patriots tried to stop the New York Post. The same was reported by InTouch and NBC Sports.

As per the reports, Mike Vrabel was given a longer time to respond than what is considered industry norms. Additionally, “[owner, Robert] Kraft took advantage of that extended timeframe to put pressure on the reporter and the newspaper.” Apparently, “a notorious crisis strategist made the call,” but they were unsuccessful in neutering the story. 

It is worth noting that this is the second time we have seen a reference being made to a crisis manager in the last few days. For those unaware, on Friday, April 17, 2026, ESPN media insider, Ben Strauss shared an in-depth report in which he said Dianna Russini had promptly contacted a “crisis communications expert” after she became aware of the situation.

He further reported that “Russini, Vrabel and executives from The Athletic, which is owned by the New York  Times, scrambled to respond” to the Post’s report. According to Ben, the Post “was open to changing the tone of the story or possibly not running it if Russini and Vrabel could provide compelling evidence to back up their statements that they had each been on a trip with friends.” 

How the Page Six/ New York Post story resulted in different outcomes for Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini 

While the Page Six report featured pictures of both Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, and both of them have been accused of cheating on their partners by netizens, it has affected the pair’s careers in wildly different ways. For Mike, it seems he has remained the least affected by the ongoing scandal. Recently, during an April 13, 2026, pre-draft press conference, the Patriots’ vice president of player personnel was asked how much Mike was involved in player evolutions amid his photos going viral. In response, Eliot Wolf said, “Very involved. Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year.” It is worth mentioning that the NFL has also decided not to investigate Mike Vrabel for his behaviour regarding Dianna. 

Unlike Mike, Dianna has been receiving a constant stream of hate amid the controversy. This even led her to resign from her job at The Athletic. For the same, she wrote a letter to the Athletic executive editor, Steven Ginsberg. The Associated Press, which obtained the letter, published its content for the world to see. In it, Dianna wrote that she has covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout her career. The Athletic has also unequivocally supported her and expressed confidence in her work, but in the days following the Page Six item, the media frenzy only continued to grow. She stated: 

“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

What are your thoughts on the Patriots trying to stop the New York Post from publishing the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini story?

Also read: Patrick Muldoon’s Last Post Surfaces Days Before Sudden Heart Attack, He Was ‘Excited For…’