Athletic editor addresses Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel scandal

Dianna Russini’s former employer, The Athletic, has addressed the scandal between the former NFL insider and the New England Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel.

Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor at The Athletic, reportedly had an all-hands meeting lasting about 10 minutes on Wednesday, April 29, to address the handling of the Russini and Vrabel situation, according to The Front Office Sports. Ginsberg reportedly shared in the meeting that the communication with his staff could have been better. Since the scandal that broke at the beginning of the month, when photos of Vrabel and Russini at a luxury resort in Arizona, an ongoing investigation by The Athletic‘s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, Mike Semel, is reportedly ongoing and is expected to be “lengthy.” While Ginsberg reportedly did not take any questions, but he said that he is going to be available to his staff.

Russini has since resigned from her role at The Athletic, which she says was two months before her contract was set to expire on June 30.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. 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,” she said per The Associated Press.

Her resignation is not her accepting the “narrative,” but does not want to continue “to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

“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 interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept,” Russini explained. “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Vrabel on the otherhand is still employed with the New England Patriots as their head coach, a position that he accepted last season. He has since spoken out after photos of he and Russini continued to be published by various outlets where they appeared to kissing in a 2020 New York City bar and photos of the two at a casino following his 2024 firing from the Tennessee Titans.

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