Patriots Owner Tried to Kill Story of Vrabel's Alleged Affair

Kraft intervened to pressure NY Post before publishing photos of coach and reporter

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:35pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of blue, green, and red, depicting the complex intersections of sports, media, and influence.A cubist interpretation of the tangled web of relationships and power dynamics at play in the alleged affair between a top NFL coach and a prominent sports reporter.Sedona Today

According to multiple sources, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft tried to stop the New York Post from publishing photos showing head coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini together at a luxury resort in Arizona. Kraft's efforts to 'kill the story' were ultimately unsuccessful, and the Post published the article and photos, leading to Russini's resignation amid an internal investigation.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the power and influence that team owners can wield over the media, as well as the ethical challenges that can arise when reporters have close relationships with their sources. It also raises questions about the NFL's handling of potential conflicts of interest and inappropriate conduct by its coaches.

The details

The New York Post article, titled 'New England Patriots' Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel,' was published on April 7 and included damning photos of Vrabel and Russini at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people. Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic amid an internal investigation, while Vrabel claimed the photos showed a 'completely innocent interaction.' According to sources, Kraft intervened and had his representatives pressure the Post before publication, but was ultimately unsuccessful in 'neutering the story.'

  • The New York Post article was published on April 7, 2026.
  • Russini resigned from The Athletic amid an internal investigation following the publication of the article.

The players

Robert Kraft

The owner of the New England Patriots who tried to stop the New York Post from publishing the story about Vrabel and Russini.

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots who was allegedly involved in an affair with reporter Dianna Russini.

Dianna Russini

A reporter for The Athletic who allegedly had an affair with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, leading to her resignation from the publication.

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What they’re saying

“Robert Kraft intervened and had his honchos pressure The Post before they published and tried to kill the story.”

— Source

“The photos don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

— Dianna Russini

“The photos showed a 'completely innocent interaction'.”

— Mike Vrabel

What’s next

The NFL is not reviewing Vrabel's actions, according to ESPN.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential conflicts of interest and ethical challenges that can arise when reporters have close relationships with their sources, as well as the influence that team owners can wield over the media. It raises questions about the NFL's handling of such situations and the need for stronger policies to address inappropriate conduct by coaches and reporters.