Dianna Russini
Getty
The Athletic has sidelined Dianna Russini as it investigates the photos snapped of her with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
For all intents and purposes, the New England Patriots have enjoyed a productive offseason. Things took a turn this week, though, when head coach Mike Vrabel was photographed spending time with NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic at a luxurious resort in Arizona, which understandably led to quite a bit of chatter on social media.
Both Vrabel and Russini have stated that they were simply spending time with each other as part of a larger group of friends, but to this point, no one has come forward to say they were with these two in Arizona. After initially standing by Russini, The New York Times (which owns The Athletic) has switched gears, as it made a big announcement regarding her standing with the company.
The New York Times Sidelines Dianna Russini Amid Mike Vrabel Investigation
On Tuesday, photographs emerged showing Vrabel and Russini spending time with each other at the Ambiente luxury hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The pictures showed the pair interlocking hands, sharing a dance with each other, and spending time lounging by the resort’s pool area. Both Vrabel and Russini are married, raising concerns that they could be engaging in an affair.
While they have collectively shot down that notion, it’s not too hard to see why speculation is running rampant on social media. So far, the Patriots have not issued any sort of comment on Vrabel’s status with the team, but it appears that Russini could be in hot water with The New York Times, given her standing as a national NFL insider with The Athletic.
On Friday, it was revealed that the company would be conducting an investigation in response to these photos of Russini and Vrabel. Beyond that, during this time, Russini will not be reporting for the outlet, further indicating that her time as an insider for The Athletic could be coming to an end, especially now that an investigation is underway.
“The New York Times has sidelined top NFL reporter Dianna Russini after Page Six published photographs that showed her holding hands with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel,” Oli Coleman of Page Six reported. “We’re told the publication is investigating the situation and ‘reviewing her coverage,’ and that Russini won’t be reporting for the outlet while the probe is underway.”
Patriots Will Be Keeping Tabs on Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Investigation
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during Super Bowl LX vs Seahawks 2026
GettyHead coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots looks on during Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
There’s no doubt that any sort of potential affair between Vrabel and Russini would be a terrible look, but the issues with this situation are deeper than that. Regardless of the true context of the aforementioned photos, even seeing Russini casually spending time with Vrabel has led to serious questions about her past reporting emerging.
Vrabel won’t walk away from this incident unscathed, but Russini’s credibility as an insider has already been torched, and with an investigation underway, things likely won’t be getting better for her anytime soon. It seems like the ball has only just gotten rolling here, and you can bet New England (in addition to the rest of the NFL) will be keeping a close eye on this situation as it unfolds.