Claim: Dianna Russini’s husband has broken his silence on the rumors of her affair with the New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

On March 28, photos surfaced on social media showing Russini and Varbel at a luxury, adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona. In the images, the two appeared more than casually acquainted, fueling speculation about the nature of their relationship. Witnesses told Page Six that the pair were either alone or notably close for stretches of the day.

Because both are married with children, the photos quickly ignited rumors of an inappropriate relationship. Vrabel and Russini, however, moved swiftly to deny the claims, insisting there was nothing romantic between them. Russini further clarified that others were present at the time the photos were taken, arguing that the images misrepresent the situation and have been taken out of context.

Amid all this, sports journalist Simon Charles shared an alleged statement on X from Russini’s husband, Kevin Goldschmidt. “A lot of people still struggle to accept a strong, independent woman thriving in what’s traditionally been a male-dominated industry,” Goldschmidt allegedly said. “Instead of celebrating her success, they try to tear her down with misinformation and noise. 

“But I see the work she puts in every single day, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s earned everything she has. That’s exactly why we supported leaders like Kamala Harris — because empowering strong women isn’t controversial, it’s necessary.”

Our Verdict: False

The post fails to provide a credible source for the quotes from Russini’s husband. Even in the bio of the profile that shared the post, it clearly reveals that it’s a parody account. What’s more, even the rumors that there’s an affair between the two are just speculation, and there’s no proof besides the photos to prove the same. 

Still, this isn’t the first time the senior NFL insider/reporter for The Athletic has faced such accusations. In September 2015, while Russini was at ESPN covering the Washington Redskins, Jessica McCloughan, the wife of then-GM Scot McCloughan, posted a series of now-deleted, vulgar tweets accusing Russini of having an affair with her husband and trading sexual favors in exchange for insider scoops.

This came right after Russini broke a story that Kirk Cousins would replace Robert Griffin III as the starting quarterback. Naturally, McCloughan’s posts suggested the information came from her husband via an improper relationship with Russini. Despite the accusations, ESPN strongly defended Russini. What’s more, McCloughan later issued a public apology, stating the remarks were unfounded and inappropriate. 

The Redskins organization and all parties involved denied any impropriety. And no evidence of an actual affair ever surfaced, and the incident was widely treated as a personal outburst from a spouse. Meanwhile, The Athletic / New York Times Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg strongly backed Russini, calling the images “misleading and lack essential context.” 

He emphasized that the interaction took place in a public setting. And noted, “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL, and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”

Our Fact-Checking Sources

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