NFL reporter Dianna Russini and her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, were pictured together for the first time since the scandal involving Russini, 43, and New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel, sent shockwaves through the sports world.
Russini and Goldschmidt hugged and kissed each other on Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 10 — outside of their New Jersey home, in photos published by Page Six on Monday, May 11.
“People in the community have said they’ve been very resilient as a family,” a source told the outlet of how the pair are weathering the storm of online speculation.
Russini was seen holding one of the couple’s two sons in the photos. She and Goldschmidt, an executive at Shake Shack, share sons Michael, born in 2021, and Joey, born in 2022.
“They haven’t been in hiding,” the source added.
The photos represented the first time the couple, who got married in September 2021, have been seen since Page Six published pictures of Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury resort in Arizona last month.
Since the release of the first batch of images, multiple outlets have released additional photos and videos of Russini and Vrabel from over the years, including the two seemingly kissing at a New York City bar in 2020 and the duo renting a private boat together in Tennessee in 2021, while Russini was pregnant.
Russini resigned from her job as The Athletic’s senior NFL insider on April 14, but stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing with Vrabel.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini said in a written statement shared via social media. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.”
She continued, “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Vrabel has not expressly admitted to being in a relationship with Russini, but did take time away from the Patriots during the NFL Draft to attend counseling.
Read the full article here
