Deanna Russini said her life had a major impact after Page Six published a photo of her hugging Mike Vrabel.
When the New York Times asked NFL reporters for comment about the scandal in early May, Russini cited the “intense scrutiny and personal attacks” he faced.
“This has had a huge impact on my life both professionally and personally,” she told the newspaper in a text message.
Russini also described himself as a “former journalist” and asked reporters not to quote the text messages.
But the NYT reporter told Russini, 43, that she never asked him to go off the record, so her comments would be published.
The former SportsCenter anchor then emailed the publisher of his most recent job, The Athletic, and two senior editors at The Times, reiterating that he did not want his comments published in the article.
Page Six reached out to the Times for comment, but Mr. Russini reiterated that he did not tell the Times that the comments were confidential.
Russini and Vrabel’s affair made headlines in April when Page Six published exclusive photos of the pair relaxing at a luxury resort in Arizona.
The sportswriter and New England Patriots head coach are both married to other people, but initially denied there was any romantic relationship between them.
They also claimed that their friends also joined them on the trip, but witnesses dispute this claim.
She resigned from her position as a senior NFL insider while the Times investigated Russini’s actions in the scandal. At the time, she was earning $8 million a year.
Vrabel, 50, then announced he would skip part of the 2026 NFL Draft in order to receive counseling.
The next day, Page Six published a photo of Russini and Vrabel kissing and making out at a New York bar in 2020. This series of photos was taken six years before the two were spotted together in Arizona.
At the time, Russini was scheduled to exchange vows with her current husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, in just six months. Meanwhile, the former NFL star was already married to his wife Jen Vrabel.
The NYT’s investigation into Russini’s extramarital affair continues.
