Review finds Russini-Vrabel bond violated standards at The Athletic

Sept. 3 (UPI) -- An investigation by The Athletic determined that former reporter Dianna Russini violated newsroom standards through her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, the outlet said Thursday.

The Athletic published the findings of the nearly five-month investigation under the headline: "Standards review of Dianna Russini's coverage for The Athletic."

Russini resigned from The New York Times Co.-owned outlet and was released from her contract April 14. The former senior insider for the NFL had taken the job role in August 2023.

The investigation, conducted by The Athletic's editorial director for standards and editorial quality Mike Semel, included a review of 903 stories and 77 videos published on the outlet's website.

It also included an examination of 204 episodes of the Scoop City podcast, which Russini co-hosted, and additional off-platform appearances she made while representing The Athletic.

Semel said he interviewed more than a dozen staff members from The Athletic who worked closely with Russini.

"Specifically, when it comes to The Athletic's standards, Russini was noncompliant," Semel wrote.

The Athletic said Russini reached out to executives at the outlet and the Times on April 7 to inform them about an impending article in the New York Post that would "suggest a romantic relationship" between Vrabel and Russini.

That same day, the Post's Page Six published an initial round of photos of the two, who are married to other people, showing them embracing and holding hands while at a luxury hotel in Sedona, Ariz.

The Athletic said that Russini waited two days before informing editors and managers about the upcoming photo release and then raised "issues of trust" when her explanation "did not align with facts." The Athletic's executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, initially called the photos "misleading" and said they lacked context.

Ginsberg later said additional information raised "new questions" in The Athletic's investigation.

Vrabel initially called it "laughable" to suggest his interaction with Russini was not a "completely innocent interaction." Russini said the initial round of photos didn't "represent the group of six people" she claimed were "hanging out" that day at the resort.

Semel said Russini "acknowledged a close relationship" with the Patriots coach, but "stressed that it was strictly professional." She also told executives that no additional "questionable pictures" would surface "because she had never done anything inappropriate," Semel wrote.

Additional photos, which showed Vrabel appearing the kiss Russini, were posted by Page Six on April 23. TMZ published another photo , which showed the duo at a Mississippi casino, on the same day.

Vrabel said that later that day that he took "accountability" for his actions that "caused a distraction" to the people he cares most about. He also said his actions did "not meet the standard" he holds himself to and opted to seek counseling. Vrabel did not attend the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft, held April 25 in Pittsburgh.

Semel said the published photos indicated a relationship, put the outlet's credibility in jeopardy and gave the "appearance of a conflict of interest."

"Russini's relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic's standards," Semel wrote. "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed."

Semel said The Athletic did not complete an investigation about the "nature of the full relationship" between the former reporter and Vrabel.

The Athletic review "found no inaccuracies" from Russini in any of her stories that involved Vrabel or his teams. Semel recommended future safeguards for the outlet, including reviews between standards editor and newsroom employees during the onboarding process, clarity and enforcement of The Athletic's conflict of interest guidelines and sourcing standards.