Overview
- Dianna Russini resigned from her senior NFL insider role at the Athletic after photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel prompted scrutiny and an internal review.
- Executive editor Steven Ginsberg told staff the investigation began as soon as leaders learned of the issue and will continue with a standards review led by Mike Semel.
- New York Times staffers, speaking anonymously to Page Six, criticized the Athletic’s early public defense as embarrassing and said readers do not distinguish between the two newsrooms.
- Colleagues and podcasters at the Athletic, including Charlotte Wilder, defended Russini and contrasted her treatment with Adam Schefter’s past unpublished-draft episode, which drew criticism but no suspension.
- Both Russini and Vrabel denied any improper relationship, and there has been no team or league discipline, keeping focus on newsroom ethics and the line between source access and the appearance of bias.