Dianna Russini quits The Athletic amid Mike Vrabel photo scandal
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesNFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday, less than a week after the New York Post’s Page Six published photos of her alongside New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort, triggering an internal investigation at the New York Times-owned outlet.
In a resignation letter addressed to Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg, Ms. Russini said she was departing not because she accepts wrongdoing but because she refuses to submit to a public inquiry that has already inflicted more damage than she is prepared to absorb. Her contract was set to expire June 30.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Ms. Russini wrote. She added that media commentators had engaged in speculation “simply unmoored from the facts” and that the frenzy was “fueled by repeated leaks.”
The Page Six photos, published last week, showed Ms. Russini and Mr. Vrabel at a Sedona hotel before the NFL league meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29. Both are married to other people. Ms. Russini said the images do not represent the full picture, noting a group of six people were present. Vrabel called any suggestive interpretation “laughable.”
The Athletic initially backed Ms. Russini without reservation — Mr. Ginsberg told the Post the photos “lacked essential context” — before launching a conduct review days later, according to ESPN. That investigation remains ongoing despite her exit, TMZ reported.
Ms. Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she served as a SportsCenter anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She also hosted a podcast and appeared on The Athletic’s video platform.
As for Mr. Vrabel, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said the coach remains fully involved in the team’s day-to-day operations. Vrabel, the AP NFL Coach of the Year after leading New England to a 14-3 record in his first season, guided the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance before losing to the Seattle Seahawks. He previously won the AP Coach of the Year award with the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
This article was constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by a member of The Washington Times' AI News Desk team. The contents of this report are based solely on The Washington Times' original reporting, wire services, and/or other sources cited within the report. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.