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Athletic reveals Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel investigation findings
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic after an investigation found she violated newsroom standards by not disclosing her relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, with photos showing them together dating back to 2020.
- The Athletic’s editorial director found no clear evidence that Russini used her platform to promote Vrabel or his teams, but noted some of her coverage was overly favorable and awkward in hindsight.
- Russini did not inform her editors about the relationship promptly, waiting two days after being confronted and providing inconsistent explanations, which raised trust concerns.
- Despite some inaccuracies, such as a column asserting Vrabel’s job security before he was fired, no definitive proof was found that Russini intentionally misled readers.
- The photo scandal led to Vrabel missing part of the NFL draft and reportedly seeking counseling, while The Athletic’s leadership described the photos as misleading and lacking context.
