Feb 7, 2022; Westlake Village, CA, USA; ESPN reporter Dianna Russini at Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI Opening Night at Oaks Christian High School. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
(New York, New York) – Dianna Russini has been temporarily taken off assignments as her employer reviews her conduct following the release of photos showing her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Russini, a senior insider for The Athletic—the sports arm of The New York Times Company—is not currently reporting while editors examine the situation.
Mar 31, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The scrutiny stems from images that appear to show Russini and Vrabel spending time together at an Arizona resort. The photos, which circulated earlier this week, captured the two in what some have described as a personal setting, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest given Russini’s role covering the league.
According to sources, leadership initially believed the images may have been misleading or lacked full context, including the possibility that others were present. However, as more information surfaced, concerns grew, prompting a broader internal review that now includes a look at Russini’s recent coverage.
While the process plays out, her reporting has been put on hold.
Both Russini and Vrabel have denied any inappropriate behavior. Vrabel dismissed the situation outright, while Russini emphasized that interactions between reporters and sources outside of official environments are common in the NFL world and said the photos do not tell the full story.
The review is ongoing, and there’s no timeline yet for when a decision will be made on Russini’s return.