The Athletic concludes investigation into Dianna Russini's relationship with NFL coach Mike Vrabel

The Athletic completed an internal review of reporter Dianna Russini after photos emerged showing her holding hands with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in 2022 and kissing in 2020, when Vrabel was the Titans' head coach. The investigation determined that Russili failed to disclose the relationship, violating the outlet's standards, and she resigned in April.

Editorial director for standards and quality Mike Semel said the review of 903 articles, 77 videos and 204 podcast episodes did not reveal a clear link between Russili’s coverage and any promotion of Vrabel or his teams. > "There are examples of Russili writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable," Semel wrote in the report.

Semel noted a November 2023 column in which Russili claimed Vrabel’s job with the Titans was secure based on "multiple conversations with high-ranking Titans officials," a claim that proved inaccurate after Vrabel was dismissed in January 2024. The report said it could not verify whether those conversations occurred.

Russili, who is married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, initially responded to the photos by saying they did not represent the entire group present. Vrabel described the images as "a completely innocent interaction" and declined further comment. The Athletic’s executive editor Steven Ginsberg called the photos "misleading and lacking essential context."

The review also highlighted that Russili delayed informing editors about the photos and provided an explanation that conflicted with known facts, raising concerns about trust within the newsroom.