Image Source: The New York Times
Athletics review findings have concluded that former NFL insider Dianna Russini violated The Athletic’s editorial standards by failing to disclose the nature of her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
The report, released Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, followed an extensive review of Russini’s journalism and professional appearances. It stopped short of determining the full nature of the relationship between Russini and Vrabel, but said publicly available photographs were enough to establish a violation of company policy.
Athletics Review Delivers a Critical Editorial Finding
Mike Semel, The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, led the inquiry. The review began after photographs published by the New York Post’s Page Six showed Russini and Vrabel together at a resort in Sedona, Ariz.
The images showed the pair holding hands, hugging and sitting together in a pool. Russini notified executives at The Athletic and The New York Times Company about the expected Page Six report in April. She resigned from The Athletic later that month, shortly after being suspended from reporting.
“Russini should have disclosed to The Athletic the nature of her relationship with Vrabel to allow editors to assess the kinds of stories on which she should have been working, if any,” Semel wrote in the report.
Inside the Explosive Five-Month Investigation
The scope of the review was substantial. Semel examined:
- 903 stories and 77 videos authored or contributed to by Russini.
- 204 episodes of her “Scoop City” podcast.
- 25 off-platform appearances where she represented The Athletic.
- 75 stories by The Athletic involving Vrabel or his teams.
- Interviews with approximately 14 staff members who worked with Russini.
Only about 5 percent of Russini’s 903 published pieces involved Vrabel or one of his teams. Of roughly 46 relevant stories, nearly one-third involved routine transactions such as trades or coaching hires. The inquiry found that none of those pieces were exclusive scoops.
That evidence led Semel to conclude there was limited support for the idea that Russini used her position to promote Vrabel or benefit the Patriots. The report also said her sourcing extended throughout the NFL and was not unusually dependent on Vrabel.
What the Report Found About Russini’s NFL Coverage
The review did identify several pieces that appeared awkward in light of the photographs. In one October column, Russini described Vrabel as “New England’s hero” when he returned to face his former team, the Tennessee Titans.
Semel said Russini was also enthusiastic about Vrabel during several “Scoop City” podcast appearances. However, he found that her overall tone toward the struggling Titans and resurgent Patriots was not clearly different from coverage produced by other outlets.
Russini had a role in three in-depth stories involving Vrabel. She helped Zack Rosenblatt arrange an interview for a January 2025 feature about Vrabel’s time away from coaching, but she did not contribute to the resulting article. She also shared a byline with Joe Rexrode on a January 2024 analysis, though Rexrode obtained the key information and the story was described as fact-based.
The report further identified one December 2023 “What I’m hearing” item about a Titans two-point conversion decision. Semel recommended that an editor’s note be added to that column and to three videos featuring Russini and Vrabel.
Why the Findings Matter for Sports Journalism
The central concern was not a proven pattern of favorable reporting. Instead, it was the failure to disclose a personal connection that could reasonably affect audience confidence in impartiality.
The inquiry said Russini’s explanation of the photographs did not align with the facts, creating additional concerns about trust. Although she declined to be interviewed for the review, Russini said in a statement that she stood by all of the reporting she had done throughout her career.
Semel recommended that The Athletic add a 30-minute standards review for new newsroom employees. The session would clarify conflict-of-interest rules, make sourcing expectations more precise and reinforce editorial policies across the organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Athletics review conclude?
The review concluded that Dianna Russini was noncompliant with The Athletic’s standards because she did not disclose her relationship with Mike Vrabel. It did not determine the full nature of that relationship.
Did investigators find biased reporting?
The inquiry found limited evidence that Russini’s relationship with Vrabel affected her reporting or analysis. Most relevant stories were transactional, routine or fact-based.
How many stories did the review examine?
Mike Semel reviewed 903 stories and 77 videos by Russini, along with 204 podcast episodes, 25 off-platform appearances and related coverage by The Athletic.
What happened to Dianna Russini?
Russini resigned from The Athletic in April 2026 after the publication of photographs showing her with Vrabel. She had been suspended from reporting shortly before her resignation.
