Nicely-known NFL insider Dianna Russini had lately been “sidelined” from reporting on the league by The Athletic after photographs surfaced earlier this month displaying her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holding arms, hugging and lounging close to a pool at a resort in Sedona, Ariz., in late March.
Russini and Vrabel, who’re each married to different individuals, previously denied any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, it is now identified that Russini will not return to masking the NFL for The Athletic.
Dianna Russini makes big profession resolution
Per a letter despatched to Athletic govt editor Steven Ginsberg and posted by The Associated Press and ESPN on Tuesday afternoon, Russini has resigned from her position with the outlet owned by the New York Instances.
“I’ve lined the NFL with professionalism and dedication all through my profession, and I stand behind each story I’ve ever printed,” Russini wrote. “When the Page Six merchandise first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pleasure in my journalism. For that I’m grateful. Within the days that adopted, sadly, commentators in varied media have engaged in self-feeding hypothesis that’s merely unmoored from the info. Furthermore, this media frenzy is hurtling ahead with out regard for the evaluate course of The Athletic is attempting to finish. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I’ve no real interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already brought about way more injury than I’m prepared to just accept. Slightly than permitting this to proceed, I’ve determined to step apart now — earlier than my present contract expires on June 30. I accomplish that not as a result of I settle for the narrative that has been constructed round this episode, however as a result of I refuse to lend it additional oxygen or to let it outline me or my profession.”
What The Athletic stated about Dianna Russini stepping away
One story from this week famous that Ginsberg initially providing sturdy assist for Russini through a press release shared by Web page Six upset staffers at The Athletic. In the meantime, Professional Soccer Speak’s Mike Florio speculated that Russini could have sensed the place The Athletic’s investigation into the Vrabel-related matter was heading and “knew whatever the end result her contract wouldn’t be renewed past the upcoming deadline.”
“I’m writing to let you recognize that Dianna Russini has submitted her resignation from The Athletic, efficient instantly,” Ginsberg wrote for a memo despatched to staffers and shared by Meredith Perri of MassLive. “Whereas I can’t share the main points of our investigation into Dianna’s conduct, I wish to emphasize that the management of The Athletic has taken this matter significantly from the second that we discovered about it. …When this example was dropped at our consideration final week, there have been clear issues, however we acquired an in depth rationalization, and it was our intuition to assist and defend a colleague whereas we continued to evaluate the matter. As extra info emerged, new questions had been raised that grew to become a part of our investigation. Whereas our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she selected to resign.”
As for Vrabel, it appears unlikely he’ll face any punishment associated to this matter until it’s decided that he somehow violated the NFL’s tampering guidelines whereas having a detailed relationship with a long-time reporter. Earlier than Russini joined The Athletic in 2023, she spent practically a decade at ESPN.
Vrabel is expected to publicly communicate with media members subsequent week relating to the beginning of Part 1 of the Patriots’ offseason program and the 2026 NFL Draft, which will get underway on April 23.
