Dianna Russini and her husband Kevin Goldschmidt were seen in Manhattan before Bruce Springsteen’s latest show, just weeks after scandal photos involving New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel led to Russini’s resignation and Vrabel’s public acknowledgment of
Dianna Russini and her husband Kevin Goldschmidt looked relaxed in Manhattan on Saturday, turning up at a busy pre-show bar scene near Madison Square Garden with a group of roughly 10 to 15 friends ahead of Bruce Springsteen’s latest concert in the city.
The outing comes after a shock that has kept spreading through the NFL since bombshell pictures surfaced last month showing Russini holding hands with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an adults-only resort in Arizona.. Those images triggered a scandal that led Russini to resign from her job as an NFL reporter at The Athletic.
Still, Saturday’s mood appeared upbeat.. A witness described Russini and Goldschmidt as “in good spirits. ” with their group “very excitable” as they shared drinks and food while fans gathered before the show at the Bourbon and Branch Bar.. The witness said the couple looked “very carefree given everything that has gone on. ” adding: “They were having a great time. ” and “They were having a blast with a big group of friends.”
Russini, who lives in Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey, and Goldschmidt were reportedly seated opposite each other at the bar as it filled up. The witness added that she didn’t seem concerned about whether she might be recognized.
Russini has denied having an affair with Vrabel, who is also married.. She also insisted in her resignation letter to bosses at the New York Times-owned Athletic that she would not let her career be defined by the bombshell pictures.. Vrabel, though, took a different tone when he faced the media ahead of the NFL draft in late April.
“I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about – my family. this football team. this organization and our fans. ” Vrabel said.. He later started counseling. missed day three of the draft. and admitted he wanted to set a better example as a husband. father and head coach.
In the days that followed the initial photos, Russini deleted her social media accounts.. More images then continued to surface.. The most damaging were described as showing Russini and Vrabel getting intimate as far back as March 2020 at a bar in Tribeca. Manhattan—just a few miles from where she was relaxing with friends on Saturday.
Video footage also emerged describing a romantic boat trip that allegedly took place just months before Russini gave birth to her first son. A rental claim said Russini and Vrabel were the only people on board, with that account backed by a signed company waiver reviewed by TMZ.
Russini later gave birth to her first of two sons, named Mike, in August 2021. TMZ reported that she named the child after her brother, Michael Russini, not the Patriots coach.
Other clips kept adding pressure.. A flirty exchange resurfaced from a Barstool podcast episode in which Vrabel and Russini were pitted against each other in a Family Feud-style game.. In the segment. Russini was asked. “Tell me something a man might do to get a woman in the mood.” She answered: “Kiss her!. This is good advice for you guys.” Vrabel then jumped in unprompted, responding: “I’m paying very close attention.. I’m so excited.”
A 2021 episode of ESPN’s Get Up also re-emerged, showing Russini discussing her marriage.. “I’m married to someone average,” she said at the time.. She added, “I don’t post a lot about him.. If I was married to someone beautiful. I’d over-post too.” Her co-hosts later gave her a chance to correct herself. and she replied: “We’re average together.”
The timing of Saturday’s evening seemed especially loaded: while NFL fallout has dominated the conversation around Russini and Vrabel over the past few weeks. Vrabel has returned to coaching with the Patriots as he takes the first steps toward preparing for the 2026 NFL season.. His immediate focus has included overseeing rookie minicamp.
Football excitement also returned for fans as the schedule was released this week for the new campaign. The Patriots begin their season with a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, who confirmed on Saturday night the return of Aaron Rodgers.
Taken together. the weekend’s pre-show party look and the escalating set of photos over time sit side by side: Russini deleted her social accounts as additional clips emerged. Vrabel acknowledged accountability and began counseling after the fallout. and then both found themselves—at least publicly—moving through separate but parallel steps toward “normal” as training and the NFL calendar pick back up.
Dianna Russini Mike Vrabel Kevin Goldschmidt Patriots NFL scandal Bruce Springsteen Madison Square Garden Bourbon and Branch Bar Aaron Rodgers Seattle Seahawks Pittsburgh Steelers