Dianna Russini was a little known sports journalist before April 2026, living with her husband Kevin Goldschmidt and two kids. But on April 7, photos of Dianna, 43, and the New England Patriots' coach Mike Vrabel, 50, sharing a hug, some hand holding, and pool side lounging surfaced on April 7.
Both parties, who are married to other people, were quick to refute any salacious speculation about the photo. "These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Mike, who has been married for 26 years to wife Jen, said in a statement to Page Six. "This doesn't deserve any further response."
For her role in the photos, Dianna shared: "The photos don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day," adding: "Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues."
A week after the photos were shared around the internet, Dianna resigned from her role at The Athletic after photos of her and t holding hands at an Arizona resort.
Keep reading for all we know about Dianna, her husband, and their kids.
© InstagramDianna married her husband Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020
The couple tied the knot on September 26, 2020. In a photo from Dianna's Instagram shared on their three year anniversary, which has now been made private, the two shared smiles while Dianna posed in a strapless wedding gown.
© InstagramKevin is an executive at Shake Shack
Per Kevin's LinkedIn, he is the Vice President of Total Rewards and HR Technology at Shake Shack, where he's worked for six years. Kevin studied finance at Penn State University, graduating in 2007.
© InstagramThe couple share two children
Less than a year after they tied the knot, Dianna and Kevin welcomed their first child, a boy named Michael Andrew. The journalist announced his birth to Instagram on August 7, 2021, revealing that her son was born on her dad's birthday.
In October 2022, the couple welcomed their second son, Joseph "Joey" Kevin, who they named after Dianna's late grandfather. "The person who always told me I could do anything and be anyone was my late Grandpa Joe," she wrote in an Instagram post. "We are beyond lucky and blessed."
© Getty ImagesWeeks before the photo leak, Dianna joked about her marriage "falling apart"
During a February 2026 appearance on the Stugotz and Company podcast, Dianna joked about her marriage was "falling apart" due to her busy schedule. She even jokingly said that she and Kevin would get "divorced at the end of the year."
"He doesn't even know who I am right now...we've never been more disconnected in our lives," Dianna continued. "Our text messages look like two robots."
© Getty ImagesDianna's career before the scandal
Dianna always loved sports, playing soccer in college at George Mason University in Fairfax County, Virginia. After graduating, she joined WNBC in New York City, soon moving to Seattle to cover sports for Comcast.
Dianna then worked for ESPN for eight years, serving as a SportsCenter anchor and a sideline reporter for XFL afternoon games. In 2023, she joined The Athletic as their NFL insider.
