Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, has weighed in on the affair scandal involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini. Russini, 43, stepped down from her role at The Athletic earlier this month amid allegations of an affair with Vrabel, 50. Both are married with children and have denied the claims.
Hudson Questions Media Behavior
Hudson, whose own relationship with Belichick has faced scrutiny due to a 49-year age gap, appeared to accuse the media of 'suspicious behaviors' on Tuesday. She fueled social media conspiracy theories linking the scandal to the firing of NFL analyst Chris Simms. Simms, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, was let go from NBC's 'Football Night in America' as part of a lineup overhaul.
His dismissal came shortly after he was interrupted while discussing the Vrabel-Russini scandal on 'Pro Football Talk.' Simms had said, 'I'd shoot you straight. These are things that I've been texting with my friends in the coaching world. Even their wives are involved in the conversation.' Host Mike Florio then cut him off, telling him to 'stay on target.'
Conspiracy Theories and Social Media Posts
Following Simms' release, social media users baselessly questioned if his comments led to his firing. Hudson appeared to support this theory by quote-tweeting an account commenting on the claims, asking, 'We're not talking about this? Why not, @ProFootball Talk?' She also retweeted a post listing 18 'bizarre/suspicious media behaviors in the Russini-Vrabel scandal.'
Hudson further referenced her own viral moment when she interrupted Belichick's CBS interview by saying, 'We're not talking about this.' She photoshopped Simms' and Florio's faces onto a screenshot of that moment.
No Evidence of Link
Despite Hudson's questions, there is no evidence linking Simms' exit to his comments. The offseason shake-up also saw Tony Dungy and Matthew Berry cut, with Mike Tomlin joining as a replacement. Simms confirmed his departure on 'PFT Live,' saying, 'I'm not on the show anymore. I don't know if anyone told you. I will not be a part of 'Football Night In America.' They told me that last week, so that's going to be a different aspect. That hurt because I do love it.'
Simms had been an analyst on the show since 2017 and continues other roles at NBC, including his podcast 'Chris Simms Unbuttoned' and appearances on 'Pro Football Talk.'
Vrabel Seeks Counseling
Meanwhile, Vrabel has sought professional help amid the affair claims. He and Russini initially denied the allegations, insisting they were at a $2,500-a-night Arizona retreat with a larger group. Vrabel has since apologized to his family and stepped away from the 2026 NFL Draft to focus on counseling and maintain a low profile.
