NFL reporter Russini resigns amid ‘self-feeding speculation’ over photos with Patriots’ Vrabel

Q: Why did Dianna Russini resign from The Athletic?

Dianna Russini resigned due to a media frenzy and speculation surrounding her relationship with Mike Vrabel, which she felt was damaging and unmoored from the facts.

Q: What prompted the internal investigation at The Athletic regarding Russini?

The internal investigation was prompted by photos of Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel taken at a resort, which raised questions about the nature of their relationship.

Q: What has Mike Vrabel said about the photos with Dianna Russini?

Mike Vrabel described any suggestion of impropriety regarding the photos as 'laughable' and stated that their interaction was platonic and taken out of context.

Dianna Russini joined The Athletic in 2023. Photograph: Ben Margot/AP (Photograph: Ben Margot/AP) NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet. The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at an Arizona resort and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on 29 March. Related: New York Times investigates reporter Dianna Russini’s Vrabel coverage amid photo uproar “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in a letter sent on Tuesday to The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg. “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now – before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.” Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including SportsCenter anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform. The photos show Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury hotel in Sedona, including by a pool, in a hot tub and on a rooftop deck. Some appear to show the pair embracing and holding hands. Russini and Vrabel, who are married to other people, have said the interaction was platonic and taken out of context. Russini said the photos did not reflect that they were part of a larger group gathering, while Vrabel called any suggestion of impropriety “laughable”. Vrabel didn’t attend New England’s pre-draft news conference on Monday. The Athletic initially defended Russini. Ginsberg said the images lacked context and depicted public interactions among multiple people. The outlet then expanded its review after additional reporting raised questions about Russini’s coverage of Vrabel and the nature of their relationship. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 14-3 finish last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Vrabel previously won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award with Tennessee in 2021.