NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after photos of her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel

BREAKING NEWSApr. 14, 2026, 8:03 PM UTCU.S. newsU.S. newsNFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after photos of her with Patriots coach Mike VrabelIn photos published by The New York Post, Vrabel and Russini could be seen hanging out poolside, in a hot tub and on a rooftop deck at a luxury hotel in Arizona.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Dianna Russini on the sidelines of an NFL football game in 2019.Ben Margot / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Daniel ArkinNFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic — a sports journalism brand owned by The New York Times — less than a week after photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona hotel drew scrutiny, a spokesperson for the New York Times confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In photos published by The New York Post last Tuesday, Vrabel and Russini could be seen hanging out poolside, in a hot tub and on a rooftop deck at the Ambiente luxury hotel in Sedona. Two of the photos showed them with intertwined hands. Vrabel and Russini are both married to other people.“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg, according to a screenshot she posted on X.“When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. 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,” Russini wrote in the letter.“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 intere...