The Athletic has brought senior NFL insider Dianna Russini under investigation, after she was spotted off-field with Mike Vrabel, the head coach of the New England Patriots, as per an exclusive Page Six report that showed the two at a resort.

“The nature of Ms. Russini’s relationship with Mr. Vrabel and her coverage are being reviewed and she will not be reporting while the investigation is underway,” an article published on Saturday in The New York Times said. 

According to the exclusive, Russini and Vrabel were “spotted two weekends ago” and they were “holding hands and hugging at a luxurious hotel” in Sedona, Arizona.

Russini joined The Athletic, owned by the New York Times, in 2023 after she quit ESPN. She worked as a reporter/anchor for eight years. The article also stated the newsroom’s guidelines under which Russini’s involvement with Vrabel was flagged.

“The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, so as not to call into question their credibility,” the statement read.

Russini has been covering the NFL for over a decade. As of 2023, she has covered three Super Bowl Championships for ESPN. Apart from her reportage for The Athletic, she is also a co-host of the podcast “Scoop City.” 

Both Vrabel and Russini maintain that they are friends and stated against reports that apparently skewed their interaction.

Initial Response to the Photographs

After the exclusive made headlines, Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor of The Athletic, made a public statement on the matter.

“These were public interactions in front of many people,” Ginsberg said. “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL, and we're proud to have her at The Athletic.”

Both Russini and Vrabel have maintained that they were with many friends the day these photos were taken, according to various outlets.

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said. 

Vrabel stated that his interaction with Russini was like any other off the field. 

“Like most journalists in the N.F.L., reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues. These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” he said. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

While reports suggest that The Athletic would look into the matter, the New England Patriots have not made any comments yet on the matter.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote