Drake Maye reflects on Mike Vrabel’s influence after Super Bowl loss
Drake Maye talks about Mike Vrabel’s coaching after Super Bowl loss.
- Mr. Vrabel and Mr. Russini are both married to other people, but they downplayed the photo as an innocent exchange.
- Russini’s employer, The Athletic, criticized the photo as misleading and lacking important context.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Deanna Russini are downplaying the significance of a photo taken together at an Arizona resort last month that was recently published in the New York Post.
Photos show the two in swimsuits at a pool two weeks ago, and they are also seen cuddling on the rooftop of Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona. Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are both married to other people.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “I don’t deserve any further response.”
Russini also issued a statement saying, “The photo does not represent the group of six people who were together during the day. Like most NFL journalists, the reporter is communicating with sources located away from the stadium and other venues.”
Russini, a former anchor and reporter for ESPN, joined The Athletic in 2023 as the national NFL reporter and hosts the podcast “Scoop City: Inside the NFL.”
“These photos are misleading and lack important context,” said Stephen Ginsburg, editor-in-chief of The Athletic. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Deanna is a premier journalist covering the NFL, and we are proud to welcome her to The Athletic.”
Before arriving at Ambiente, Vrabel attended a scouting event at Arizona State University on Friday, March 27, the newspaper reported.
Both Vrabel and Russini then attended the NFL League Annual Meeting, which was held Sunday through Tuesday, March 29-31, in Phoenix.
Vrabel, a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, is in his second year as New England’s head coach. Last season, he led his team to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance, and was named NFL Coach of the Year.
