Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday, less than a week after published photos of her with Mike Vrabel triggered an internal investigation at the sports site. In a statement, Russini said she was stepping aside before her contract expires on June 30 and rejected the narrative that had built up around the episode.
The New York Post published photos last week of Russini and Vrabel at a Sedona hotel, saying they were taken before the NFL owners meetings began in Phoenix on March 29. Russini said the images did not show the full scene, telling the Post that they “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.” Vrabel, who is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots, said the photos showed “a completely innocent interaction” and called any suggestion otherwise “laughable.”
Russini said she had covered the NFL “with professionalism and dedication” throughout her career and stood behind every story she had published. She also said The Athletic had supported her when the Page Six item first appeared and argued that commentators had driven a self-feeding round of speculation that was detached from the facts. “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she said, adding that she had no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that had already caused more damage than she was willing to accept.
The Athletic, which is owned by, had already been reviewing the matter when Russini resigned. On Saturday, reported that the outlet was investigating her conduct, and The Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg had previously told the Post that the photos lacked essential context while praising Russini’s work there. Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at and also hosted a podcast for the site and appeared on its video platform.
Her departure closes one of the messiest stretches yet for a prominent NFL reporter caught in a story that moved faster than any formal review could contain. Russini said she refused to lend the episode further oxygen or let it define her career, and by leaving now she leaves The Athletic to finish a review that has already spilled far beyond its newsroom. Vrabel’s Monday no-show at New England’s pre-draft news conference only kept the subject alive for another day.
