Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday after telling executives at the New York Times-owned outlet that photographs of her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel were the work of “sexist men” trying to bring her down in a male-dominated industry, according to people familiar with the internal discussions.
When asked by her bosses for evidence to support her account — such as text messages about group travel plans, screenshots or photos from a hike — Russini provided none that satisfied investigators, three people with knowledge of the timeline told ESPN.
The photos, first published by the New York Post’s Page Six, showed Russini and Vrabel holding hands, embracing and together at a luxury resort pool and hot tub in Sedona, Arizona, on March 28, ahead of NFL league meetings in nearby Phoenix. Both are married to other people.
Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 50, coordinated their public responses. Russini told The Post she and Vrabel were part of a larger group hanging out at the hotel. Vrabel issued a statement calling any suggestion of impropriety “laughable” and said the images showed “a completely innocent interaction.”
Russini first learned of the photos on Easter Sunday, April 12, when a New York Post reporter approached her at her home in Bergen County, New Jersey. That same day she consulted a crisis communications expert to plan her response, a person with knowledge of the call told ESPN.
She appealed directly to New York Times Co. CEO Meredith Kopit Levien, arguing the photos amounted to a sexist attack on a female reporter and insisting she had been traveling with friends. She offered to have her bosses speak with Vrabel, but the company declined, according to people briefed on the conversations.
The Athletic initially backed Russini publicly. Executive editor Steven Ginsberg told The Post the images were “misleading and lack essential context” and that the interactions occurred “in front of many people.” But internal outrage grew among staff, and the outlet opened an investigation into the nature of Russini’s relationship with Vrabel, her NFL coverage and whether she had been truthful about the trip.
New York Times ethics guidelines require journalists to disclose personal relationships with sources that could create an appearance of bias. Russini did not file stories during the review.
In her resignation letter to Ginsberg, which she posted on social media, Russini wrote that she stood behind her journalism but would not “submit to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.” She cited “self-feeding speculation” fueled by leaks and said she was stepping aside “not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode.”
Ginsberg later told staff that initial support for Russini gave way to “new questions” as more information emerged. The Athletic’s review of her past work continues.
Russini, a former ESPN and NBC reporter who joined The Athletic in 2023 as one of its highest-paid NFL voices, launched the “Scoop City” podcast and was known for her news-breaking and large social media following.
Vrabel, the reigning AP NFL Coach of the Year, remains with the Patriots and has faced no league review under its personal conduct policy. He did not address the photos publicly beyond his initial statement.
In a positive development Friday, Russini was credited with helping rescue a 73-year-old man and his dog from an overturned Jeep in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Witnesses said the crash occurred directly in front of her vehicle. Russini and another bystander climbed onto the Jeep, opened the door and pulled the driver and the dog to safety, according to Page Six and local reports.
Russini’s resignation comes as her contract was set to expire in June with no severance, multiple people familiar with the terms said.
Flip the pages for photos of Vrabel and Russini at the resort.
