Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic amid a review of her actions prior to the NFL's annual meetings in Arizona.
Videos by FanBuzz
The Associated Press broke the news on Tuesday afternoon after obtaining a copy of Russini's resignation letter. The longtime NFL insider said that she "has been guided by the highest standards of professional conduct" and that she remains grateful to the outlet with which she began working in 2023.
"I have come to this decision with deep sadness but with clarity about what is right for me, my family, and the work I have spent my career building," Russini wrote in a letter she also posted on X.
"You and I have already publicly addressed the recent attacks against me, and I have nothing to add publicly to what we have said. I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published."
The Athletic had recently sidelined Russini while investigating a scandal involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Page Six had published photos showing the two holding hands and hugging at a resort in Arizona. Other photos showed them lounging at a pool together.
The photos created questions about a romantic entanglement. One issue is that Russini and Vrabel are married to other people.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel and Athletic reporter Dianna Russini were seen holding hands and hugging while at a luxury hotel pool in pictures obtained by the New York Post. Vrabel and Russini and both married.
“Both Russini and Vrabel insist they were there with friends and say… pic.twitter.com/OmbDBH2PR1
— New England Sports Fellow (@_JosephManning) April 7, 2026
Both Russini and Vrabel responded to the photos. The longtime insider said the photos didn't show that they were with other people. Vrabel said that this was a completely innocent interaction.
The Athletic responded by issuing a statement in support of Russini and said that the photos lacked context. However, an internal investigation then began over the weekend.
"When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism," Russini added.
"For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete.
"It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now - before my current contract expires on June 30.
"I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career. Over a career spanning more than fifteen years in sports journalism — at NBC, ESPN, and The Athletic — I have built a body of work I am proud of."
