NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic on April 14, exactly one week after photos of her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at a posh Arizona report were published by the New York Post.
According to The Associated Press, Russini’s resignation letter to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg 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. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete.
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“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.”
The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, confirmed Saturday that Russini’s conduct was being investigated, saying “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 photos, published by The Post on April 7, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before the NFL’s annual league meeting in Phoenix. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.
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“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post, which published the photos, in a statement last week.
“This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini, who worked for ESPN prior to joining The Athletic in 2023, covered Vrabel while he was the coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. Though she initially received a statement of support from The Athletic (also effectively the New York Times’ sports section) after the release of the photos, her conduct later came under scrutiny within the organization.
This story will be updated
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic amid Mike Vrabel investigation
