NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic — a sports journalism brand owned by The New York Times — less than a week after photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona hotel drew scrutiny, a spokesperson for The Times confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday.
In photos published by The New York Post last Tuesday, Vrabel and Russini could be seen hanging out poolside, in a hot tub and on a rooftop deck at the Ambiente luxury hotel in Sedona. Two of the photos showed them with intertwined hands. Vrabel and Russini are both married to other people.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg, according to a screenshot she posted on X.
“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,” Russini wrote in the letter.
“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,” Russini added.
“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,” she wrote.
The New York Times reported over the weekend that The Athletic was investigating Russini’s conduct. The news of the probe came after Ginsberg said the photos were “misleading and lack essential context.”
“These were public interactions in front of many people,” he said. “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the N.F.L. and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
In a message to Athletic staff members Tuesday, Ginsberg said the website’s leadership has “taken this matter seriously from the moment that we learned about it.” He also acknowledged the shifting messages from the publication.
“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,” Ginsberg said in the message, which was provided by sources at The Athletic.
“As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation,” Ginsberg wrote.
Vrabel, for his part, previously denied any allegation of impropriety. In a statement to The New York Post’s Page Six, the Patriots coach said: “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” he said. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini is considered one of the sport journalism industry’s leading NFL reporters. She worked as a reporter for NBC New York early in her career before moving on to ESPN. She left ESPN in 2023 for a role as the Athletic’s football insider.
