04/14/26 02:40:00
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04/14 14:36 CDT NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after
photos published of her with Mike Vrabel
NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after photos published of
her with Mike Vrabel
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week
after published photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an
Arizona resort 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 the
Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began
in Phoenix on March 29.
"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 Tuesday to Athletic Executive Editor Steven
Ginsberg and obtained by The Associated Press.
"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
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements to the Post after
publication of the photos downplaying what the photos depict.
Russini said they "don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out
during the day."
Vrabel told the newspaper: "Those photos show a completely innocent interaction
and any suggestion otherwise is laughable."
Vrabel didn't attend New England's pre-draft news conference on Monday.
The New York Times reported Saturday that the digital outlet was investigating
Russini's conduct.
That decision came after Ginsberg previously told the Post that the photos
"lacked essential context" and lauded her work with The Athletic.
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.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
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