Key facts
- The Athletic’s investigation concluded Russini’s relationship with Vrabel ‘was in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards’ and should have been disclosed, regardless of whether it was romantic
- Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 after photos published by Page Six (April 7 and 23) and TMZ (April 23) showed her with Vrabel at an Arizona resort
- The Athletic reviewed 903 stories, 77 videos, 204 podcast episodes, and 25 off-platform appearances by Russini during the investigation
- Investigators found no clear link that Russini used her platform to promote Vrabel, but identified examples of her writing glowingly about him
- When confronted with photos by the New York Post, Russini waited two days before informing editors and told a story that did not align with facts
- The investigation identified two items potentially requiring editor’s notes: a video about a 2025 training-camp fight and a column blurb about a Titans two-point decision
The investigation’s scope and timeline
The Athletic conducted an approximately five-month internal investigation into former NFL reporter Dianna Russini following her resignation on April 14. The probe was launched after photos published by Page Six on April 7 and 23, and by TMZ on April 23, depicted Russini with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort. Russini initially told company executives on April 7 that she had a “close relationship” with Vrabel but characterized it as “strictly professional.” She resigned during the investigation period.
The core finding
According to Mike Semel, The Athletic’s Editorial Director for Standards and Quality, who conducted the investigation, Russini’s relationship with Vrabel “was in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards.” Semel determined that “regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed.” The Athletic established that disclosure was necessary because the photographs published in early-to-mid April “indicate a relationship that puts The Athletic’s credibility in jeopardy and gives the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
Scope of the review
The Athletic reviewed an extensive body of Russini’s work, including 903 stories and 77 videos published under her byline, plus 204 podcast episodes and 25 off-platform appearances. The company also conducted interviews with various employees as part of the investigation.
Bias and favoritism questions
Semel found no clear link supporting a conclusion that Russini used her platform to promote Vrabel or his teams during her tenure at The Athletic. However, the investigation identified examples in which Russini wrote “glowingly” about Vrabel. One specific example cited was a 2023 quote in which Russini wrote that Tennessee Titans fans should not hope for Vrabel’s firing, stating based on conversations with high-ranking Titans officials that the franchise “strongly and collectively believes it has the right coach for long-term success.”
Handling of the situation
When first confronted by The New York Post with the photographs, Russini waited two days before informing her editors and managers. According to Semel’s findings, she then “told a story to explain the photos that did not align with facts, raising issues of trust.”
Items requiring potential editorial notes
The investigation identified two pieces that may require editor’s notes: a video regarding a 2025 training-camp fight in which Vrabel “comes out as somewhat heroic” for his role in breaking it up, and a column blurb regarding the Titans’ decision to go for two in a specific game.
Sources
Featured photo: FanDuel via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)