An internal investigation by The Athletic has concluded that reporter Dianna Russini's relationship with former New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel constituted a "clear violation" of the outlet's newsroom standards, according to findings published Thursday.
Mike Semel, The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, stated in the report that "regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed." Semel reviewed 903 stories, 77 videos, and 204 podcast episodes as part of the inquiry. While Semel did not find a direct link indicating Russini used her platform to promote Vrabel or his teams, he noted "examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable."
The investigation concluded that the "appearances surrounding her relationship with Vrabel undermine our audience’s confidence in her impartiality."
Semel recommended that new hires undergo onboarding with the standards editor and that reporters disclose anonymous sources to the company. According to a source cited by ESPN, Semel interviewed staff members but did not speak directly with Russini during the investigation.
Russini resigned from her role as a Senior NFL Insider at The Athletic in April, following reports and published photographs of her and Vrabel together at a resort. Both are married to other individuals. At the time of her resignation, Russini stated she stood by her professional conduct and career coverage, asserting she did not wish to let the situation define her or her career, rather than accepting a constructed narrative.
Vrabel, who has coached the New England Patriots since January 2025, has reportedly sought counseling following the scandal and remains with his wife, Jen Vrabel. Russini and her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, married in 2020. Both couples have two sons each.
Semel's report found that the vast majority of Russini's work for The Athletic was unrelated to Vrabel, his coaching assignments, or player recruitment, and that she was well-sourced throughout the NFL beyond Vrabel and the Patriots.