NFL reporter Diana Russini resigns from The Athletic, less than a week after publishing her photos new England Patriots Mike Vrabel, the coach at the Arizona resort, led an internal investigation into the New York Times-owned sports outlet.
The New York Post published last week The photos were taken of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona hotel and were said to have been taken before the NFL league meetings began in Phoenix on March 29.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I have supported every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first came out, The Athletic clearly supported me, expressed confidence in my work and expressed pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days since, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-funded speculation that is completely unmoored from the facts,” Russini said. said in a letter sent Tuesday to The Athletic’s executive editor Steven Ginsberg.
“Furthermore, this media frenzy is moving forward rapidly without regard to the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It is continuing to escalate due to repeated leaks, and I have no interest in getting involved in a public scrutiny that has already caused more damage than I want to admit. Rather than allow this to continue, I have decided to step aside now – before my current contract expires on June 30. I am not doing this because Not because I accept the story constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to let it define me or my career.”
I submitted my resignation letter to The Athletic. Everything I have to say about it is below. pic.twitter.com/401nrtbEsj
– Diana Russini (@DMRussini) 14 April 2026
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she served in a variety of roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst and insider. He hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on its video platforms.
Following the publication of the photos, Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements in the Post minimizing what the photos depicted.
Russini said they “do not represent a group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”
Vrabel told the newspaper: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is ridiculous.”
Sources confirmed to ESPN The Times’ digital outlet Front Office Sports was investigating Rasini’s conduct following a report.
The decision came after Ginsburg said in an earlier post that the photos “lack necessary context” and praised her work with The Athletic.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as the Patriots’ coach. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 14–3 record last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Vrabel previously won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award with Tennessee in 2021.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
