Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel photos: Why NYT is investigating NFL insider
April 11, 2026, 1:34 p.m. ET
National NFL reporter Dianna Russini is now under internal investigation by The Athletic, according to multiple reports.
The news comes after the New York Post’s Page Six released photos on April 7 of Russini with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort. Russini’s coverage and conduct have been called into question since the photos surfaced.
They showed the pair in bathing suits at a pool and also hugging on a rooftop at the adult-only Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, two weekends ago. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people.
The Athletic, which is owned and operated by The New York Times, opted to reopen the internal investigation after the Post’s report “raised additional concerns that are now being further reviewed,” according to ESPN.
Russini will be sidelined during the investigation, as first reported by Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel on April 10. Russini’s last byline for The Athletic was published on April 7.
Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, initially put out a statement in support of Russini, who joined the outlet in 2023.
“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Ginsberg said. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
What Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel said about resort photos
Both Vrabel and Russini issued statements downplaying the photos, indicating they were together platonically.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Why the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel photos invite scrutiny
Russini, a former anchor and reporter for ESPN, has come under fire since the Post’s story surfaced. While the photos alone don’t provide proof of any wrongdoing or an inappropriate relationship, the optics represent a blurring of lines in the journalism industry.
New York Times’ personal relationships policy for journalists
The New York Times has a clear message on its journalists’ personal relationships and the impact they have on the publication’s coverage.
“Relationships with sources require sound judgment and self discipline to prevent the fact or appearance of partiality,” the Times’ editorial standards handbook reads.
Maintaining objectivity is key for any journalist and the publication they represent. Even if the Russini and Vrabel exchange was a complete coincidence, the images tell a story that could damage The Athletic’s credibility. From a purely professional standpoint, that relationship would have to be disclosed if the pair involved in a close relationship.
“Clearly, romantic involvement with a news source would foster an appearance of partiality,” the handbook states. “Therefore staff members who develop close relationships with people who might figure in coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise must disclose those relationships to the standards editor.”
The same also applies to family ties and other close relationships.
“To avoid such conflicts, staff members may not write, edit or oversee coverage about people to whom they are related by blood or marriage or with whom they have close personal relationships.”