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Mike Vrabel addresses reporters. His ex-teammate, former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson predicts more photos involving Vrabel and Dianna Russini could emerge.

Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson now says more Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini photos could emerge, suggesting people may now revisit old pictures after the story gained attention. Johnson and Vrabel were teammates on the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2004, winning three Super Bowls together in that time.

Johnson made his remarks Friday on WEEI, and the backdrop to his warning is already substantial — more than three weeks of escalating fallout that has reshaped at least one career and shadowed New England’s entire offseason. If Johnson is right, the first wave of images may be only the beginning of a much larger distraction for New England.

Johnson Warns More Vrabel-Russini Photos Could Surface

The original images landed on April 7, when the New York Post Page Six published exclusive photos showing Vrabel and Russini at the Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona — holding hands on a private rooftop, relaxing poolside, and sitting together in an outdoor spa, according to Page Six. Both are married, but not to each other.

Vrabel called the images “a completely innocent interaction.” Russini said the photos failed to capture “the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.” Three eyewitnesses told Page Six they saw no one else with the pair.

Johnson’s theory is that casual bystanders who photographed Vrabel and Russini together before the story broke may now recognize that they have newsworthy and potentially salable photos.

“I think there could be more that comes out, where there are more pictures,” he said on WEEI. “I think there are people who probably took pictures of [Vrabel] in public before, years ago, and just didn’t think anything of it. Now the story comes out and now they go, ‘Oh, that picture I took.'”

When WEEI host Ken Laird pressed Johnson on whether things could get worse, Vrabel’s fellow ex-Patriots linebacker said he was worried. But he stopped short of predicting the worst.

“I don’t think anything is going to come out that’s going to put his job in jeopardy,” Johnson said.

Patriots Players Rally Behind Vrabel

The scandal has already widened well beyond Sedona. Page Six published photos of the pair at a New York City bar in 2020, and TMZ released a 2024 image of them together at a Mississippi casino, according to Us Weekly. Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 before the outlet’s internal investigation concluded. The NFL, however, has declined to open a probe into potential personal conduct violations by Vrabel.

Inside the Patriots locker room, players have closed ranks around their coach. Quarterback Drake Maye appeared at a Best Buddies charity event Thursday and made the team’s position clear.

“We’re here for coach. We love coach, what he does for us, what he’s done for us this past year you can’t speak into words,” Maye told reporter Jonathan Hall of 7News, as cited by 98.5 The Sports Hub. “I know he’s dealing with some stuff off the field. We’re here for him.”

The New England Patriots backed their coach organizationally as well, releasing a statement after Vrabel stepped away from draft proceedings: “Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans,” per 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Johnson, who once called Vrabel the “smartest player” he ever shared a field with, according to NBC Sports Boston, believes his former teammate will endure. Whether more photos exist is now the question hanging over New England’s offseason.