"Absolutely sickening": Dianna Russini accused of "bragging" about affair with Mike Vrabel as scandal takes dramatic turn

The Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini controversy has exploded back into the spotlight after former USA TODAY Sports writer Crissy Froyd launched a blistering public attack on the NFL insider. Months after viral photos first linked the New England Patriots coach and the veteran reporter, the scandal is again dominating football conversations online.

What started as tabloid chatter has now become one of the NFL’s ugliest media controversies. Froyd’s latest comments have intensified the backlash surrounding Russini, while fans remain divided over whether the criticism has gone too far.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini controversy takes another ugly turn

Speaking on “The Howard Eskin Show,” Froyd openly criticized Russini and claimed the situation surrounding Vrabel had been an “open secret” inside NFL circles. The former writer, who previously lost her role at USA TODAY Sports after commenting on the scandal, said the public reaction only confirmed what many insiders allegedly already knew.


“I mean, the biggest thing to me was the way that everyone knew and no one did anything about it, and it was obvious,” Froyd said.

The controversy first erupted after photos surfaced showing Vrabel and Russini together at the Ambiente hotel in Sedona, Arizona. Soon after, older images and clips of the pair from previous years spread across social media, fueling affair rumors involving the Patriots head coach.

Both Vrabel and Russini denied wrongdoing almost immediately. Vrabel reportedly called the allegations “laughable,” while Russini and The Athletic maintained the photos lacked context and were taken during a group outing with friends.

Still, public speculation never fully disappeared.

Crissy Froyd slams Dianna Russini over social media behavior

Froyd saved her harshest criticism for Russini’s online activity during the scandal. According to her, the reporter’s resurfaced posts and eventual deletion of her X account created even more suspicion among fans already following the controversy closely.

“And then to me, the worst part of it was… the way that she deleted her Twitter account and it appeared, at least the way I took it and the way that most people took it, that she had been like covertly bragging on that. I mean, it’s disgusting.



“She’s, from what I can see, going around gloating, putting it right under everyone’s nose, and that is absolutely sickening to me. I don’t think sickening is even the word; it’s more like disturbing.”

Those comments quickly spread online and reignited fierce debate across NFL media spaces. Some fans supported Froyd for speaking out, while others accused her of unfairly targeting Russini without concrete proof.

Meanwhile, the Patriots organization has continued standing behind Vrabel despite the controversy. Reports also claimed the coach stepped away briefly during the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling sessions alongside his family.

Even now, the scandal continues growing beyond football itself. What began as a celebrity-style rumor has turned into a larger conversation about media culture, accountability, and how quickly personal controversies can consume the modern NFL world.