NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after photos surfaced showing her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at a luxury resort in Arizona, prompting an internal investigation by the publication’s parent company, The New York Times.
The resignation comes as The Athletic and The Times examined both the nature of Russini’s personal relationship with Vrabel and her past professional coverage of him and the Patriots.
Russini, 43, was immediately sidelined from reporting duties during the review.
Photos published April 7 by the New York Post’s Page Six showed the pair, both married to other people, holding hands, hugging, lounging poolside, and sitting together in a hot tub at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona, around March 28.
Additional images captured them on a private rooftop bungalow.
+ Memo from Steven Ginsberg to Athletic staff: pic.twitter.com/deNfBBHhDl
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 14, 2026
Russini and Vrabel, 50, both described the interactions as innocent and part of a larger group setting. Russini told the Post the images “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.” Vrabel called it a “completely innocent interaction.” The Athletic’s executive editor initially defended her, stating the photos were “misleading and lack essential context” and occurred publicly in front of others.
However, the published images raised enough questions about potential conflicts of interest that The Athletic reopened its review. Sources told ESPN and The New York Times that her coverage of Vrabel, whom she has reported on for years, including during his tenure as Tennessee Titans coach, is under scrutiny. She has not filed any stories since April 7.
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after a prominent run at ESPN as a national NFL insider.