Dianna Russini has been pulled from reporting duties at The Athletic after the outlet confirmed it is investigating her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
According to a report published on Saturday, April 11, by The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, Russini “will not be reporting” while the review is underway. The investigation is focused on both the nature of her relationship with Vrabel and whether her coverage of the Patriots coach created a conflict, or even the appearance of one.
The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require reporters to avoid any personal or professional connections that could undermine their credibility.
The decision marks a sharp change in tone from the publication’s initial response earlier this week. After Page Six published photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands, hugging, and sitting together in a hot tub at Ambiente Sedona, The Athletic initially defended its reporter.
Executive editor Steven Ginsberg said at the time that the images were “misleading” and “lack essential context,” adding that the interactions happened publicly and in the company of others.
Russini and Vrabel have also both denied any wrongdoing. Russini told the New York Post that the trip involved “a group of six people” and said, “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Vrabel offered a similar response, saying, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
After spending years at ESPN, where she worked on SportsCenter, NFL Live, and Sunday NFL Countdown, Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 as a senior NFL insider and co-host of the podcast Scoop City.
Vrabel, meanwhile, is one of the NFL’s most prominent coaches. He took over the Patriots in 2025 and led the franchise back to the Super Bowl in his first season.
Their professional relationship dates back to 2018, when Russini covered the Tennessee Titans for ESPN and Vrabel became the team’s head coach. Over the years, Russini has regularly reported on Vrabel and the Patriots.
Just days after the Arizona trip, she co-authored a story from the NFL Competition Committee meetings in Phoenix, where Vrabel was also present.
The Athletic’s internal rules appear to be at the center of the investigation. The publication states that its journalists must avoid “even the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
One example in its guidelines notes that reporters who collaborate with athletes, coaches, or team officials on outside projects should no longer cover them.
The issue, according to the Times report, is not necessarily whether the photos prove an improper relationship, but whether they create enough doubt to damage the credibility of Russini’s reporting.
The latest development has also revived discussion of an earlier controversy involving Russini. In 2015, after she broke news about the Washington football team’s quarterback situation, Jessica McCloughan, the wife of then-general manager Scot McCloughan, publicly accused Russini of having a personal relationship with her husband.
Jessica later apologized and called the accusation “unfounded and inappropriate,” while ESPN defended Russini.
