Dianna Russini, an NFL insider for The Athletic, was earning close to $800,000 annually before her departure from the publication. Her exit occurred just days after images surfaced in early April depicting her in an intimate setting with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an adults-only resort in Arizona. Both Russini and Vrabel are married.
The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, reported Russini's salary, noting she was among the highest-paid journalists at the company. At the time the scandal broke, The Athletic and Russini were reportedly in discussions to renew her contract, which was set to expire at the end of June.
Russini has denied any affair with Vrabel, stating in her resignation announcement that she stands by all her published work. Vrabel also initially denied the affair and claimed they were at the resort with friends. However, he later stated he had begun counseling to improve himself as a husband, father, and coach, and missed the third day of the NFL Draft with the Patriots.
Podcast Controversy
The Athletic and The New York Times' bosses expressed displeasure with Russini's on-air revelation of using her connection with an NFL head coach to avoid a traffic ticket. Russini had recounted on the podcast 'Stugotz and Company' an incident where she was pulled over for texting while driving. She stated she avoided a ticket by having the head coach of the police officer's favorite team FaceTime the officer, though it was not Vrabel.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for The Times Company, deemed this behavior "unacceptable conduct." It was also revealed that Russini did not seek or receive the required permission to appear on the podcast.
Further Revelations and Investigation
According to reports, the day after the intimate photos were taken in Sedona, Russini and Vrabel were together at the NFL's annual meeting in Phoenix. During this event, Russini was reportedly seen bringing drinks to a group that included Vrabel and other NFL coaches on the patio of the Arizona Biltmore hotel. She was also observed periodically sitting on the armrest of a sofa next to where Vrabel was seated.
An investigation into Russini's relationship with Vrabel by The Athletic was reportedly still weeks away from publication over two months after the initial incident. Athletic staffers have expressed frustration over the prolonged nature of the probe, according to Page Six. Steven Ginsberg, Russini's former boss at The Athletic, initially defended her before she was placed on leave and subsequently resigned. Ginsberg stated that "additional information emerged" leading to these actions and that the investigation would be thorough.
Ginsberg informed staff that the investigation would take several more weeks due to the volume of information to review. He added that any necessary corrections would be made along the way.
Vrabel's Response
The ongoing investigation is also a factor for Vrabel as he prepares for the upcoming NFL season. In the aftermath of the scandal, Vrabel committed to counseling, stating his intention to be the best version of himself for his family, the organization, and the team. He compared the situation to advice he would give a player.
Vrabel's initial reaction to the Post's photos was to call them "laughable" when initially reached for comment. He remained silent on the matter until shortly before the NFL Draft. He later acknowledged that his initial comment was an attempt to protect his family and that he was not trying to be dismissive.
Mike and Jen Vrabel, married since 1999, have two children. Russini married her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, in September 2020.