Months before their massive alleged affair scandal erupted, Dianna Russini sat down for an interview with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, and they had what some might call flirty banter between them — all while discussing his own wife!
A video from their 2025 off-season chat for The Athletic resurfaced on social media this week, in which the 43-year-old reporter brought up Jennifer Vrabel. Dianna, who is also married, called Mike’s wife “a superb athlete” as she played for Ohio State University‘s volleyball team from 1993 to 1996.
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Remember, throwback photos surfaced on Thursday of Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City in 2020! So when this conversation took place, something allegedly had happened between them by then, so bringing up his wife is already diabolical! The next part will have your blood boiling further, though! Mike chimed in, saying:
“I would say, [Jen] used to be [a superb athlete].”
WTF!
Word to the wise, fellas. You nod your head and agree. You don’t be a jerk about your wife like Mike. What’s worse, things appear to get a little bit flirty between him and Dianna afterward! She responded:
“Maybe ‘used to be’ but she’s still got it in her the way you do.”
When Dianna asked if there was a sport Jen could beat Mike in, he said, “Ping pong.” The shocked journalist then asked:
“Have you ever done it with her?”
To which Mike replied that he gets “too aggressive” while playing. Dianna then quickly agreed, saying:
“Yeah, I can see that.”
It’s wild enough to ask about Mike’s wife after seemingly kissing him and more. But to throw out those flirty lines like in “the way you do” or “I can see that” AFTER something allegedly happened is also a huge ICK! Ugh! Watch the resurfaced clip (below):
In resurfaced interview footage, ESPN’s Dianna Russini questions Mike Vrabel about his wife’s athleticism. Vrabel replies “used to be,” prompting Russini to respond, “I’m sure she’s still got it … like you.” pic.twitter.com/fj5R5pb1zH
— TaraBull (@TaraBull) April 23, 2026
Although Dianna and Mike previously insisted they’re innocent amid the cheating rumors, evidence suggests otherwise! He has since come forward to announce he is temporarily stepping back from preparing the Patriots for the NFL draft and seeking counseling. And Mike then delivered as close to an admission as we’ll get for now:
“I take accountability for my actions and for the actions that caused distraction to the people that I care most about — my family, this football team, the organization and the fans. My previous actions don’t meet the standards that I hold myself to, they don’t. And I think it’s best for the two most important things in my life — my family and my football team — is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to get done what I told them I’d give them, which is the best version of me.”
What are YOUR reactions to the new clip, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments (below)!
[Image via NFL on ESPN/YouTube, MEGA/WENN]
