Dianna Russini reportedly resigns from The Athletic after photos with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, investigation

Veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini reportedly resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday after an investigation following the emergence of images of her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, according to the Associated Press.

The images, which were originally published by the New York Post, featured Russini and Vrabel holding hands, dancing and sitting in a hot tub together at a luxury hotel in Arizona.

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Following the release of those photos, both Vrabel and Russini downplayed them, with Russini claiming there were other people present and Vrabel saying the pictures “show a completely innocent interaction.” In the original story by the Post, three eyewitnesses claimed they did not see anyone else with Russini and Vrabel. Both Russini and Vrabel are married to other people.

Initially, The Athletic stood by Russini, with executive editor Steven Ginsberg claiming the images were “misleading and lack essential context.” Ginsberg called Russini “a premier journalist” and said he was “proud to have her at The Athletic,” per a statement to the Post.

A few days after that statement, however, the New York Times — which owns The Athletic — confirmed Russini’s conduct was being investigated by The Athletic. Russini was reportedly taken off reporting duty during the investigation, per the New York Times.

In a letter sent to Ginsberg on Tuesday, obtained by AP, Russini said: “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.”

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“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.”

Both The Athletic and New York Times require journalists to avoid activities that could pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, per their own editorial guidelines.

Ginsberg’s initial statement, combined with Russini eventually being investigated, reportedly led some staffers at both the Times and Athletic to express concern over how the situation was being handled, per Status. One source told Status Ginsberg’s statement made things “unnecessarily messy,” with another source calling it “reckless” and “premature.”

In the wake of those photos being released, several high-profile reporters and media personalities weighed in on the situation. Most focused on the potential ethical issues that arose from the images. Did Russini provide favorable coverage to Vrabel because the two are close? If so, that could present a conflict of interest in Russini’s reporting, the exact scenario laid out in The Athletic’s editorial guidelines.

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After working as a reporter in New York and in Seattle early in her career, Russini joined ESPN in 2015. She served as a “SportsCenter” anchor and sideline reporter with the network. In 2023, she left to join The Athletic, where she became one of the publication’s top NFL reporters.

This story will be updated.