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Sedona Today
By the People, for the People
NFL Declines to Review Patriots Coach Vrabel's Relationship with Reporter
League says it won't investigate potential policy violations despite scrutiny over Vrabel-Russini situation.
Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:40pm
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The NFL's selective enforcement of its personal conduct policy raises questions about double standards and integrity.Sedona TodayThe NFL has stated it will not review the situation involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini, despite questions about potential policy violations and a double standard in how the league handles such cases.
Why it matters
The decision not to investigate Vrabel's relationship with Russini raises concerns about the NFL's selective enforcement of its personal conduct policy, especially compared to high-profile cases like those involving Jon Gruden and Sean Payton.
The details
Photos emerged showing Vrabel and Russini together at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona. Russini subsequently resigned from The Athletic pending an internal investigation, while Vrabel has faced no scrutiny from the league. The NFL says it will not review Vrabel's behavior under its personal conduct policy, which prohibits 'conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL'.
- Photos of Vrabel and Russini surfaced in April 2026.
The players
Mike Vrabel
Head coach of the New England Patriots.
Dianna Russini
Former reporter for The Athletic who resigned pending an internal investigation.
Jon Gruden
Former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders who was pushed out of the league after emails from a decade earlier emerged.
Sean Payton
Former head coach of the New Orleans Saints who was suspended for a year due to the team's defensive coordinator's use of a bounty system.
What’s next
The NFL and the Patriots are unlikely to take any further action unless new information emerges from the ongoing internal investigation at The Athletic or from other sources.
The takeaway
The NFL's decision not to investigate Vrabel's relationship with Russini highlights concerns about the league's inconsistent application of its personal conduct policy, with some high-profile figures facing swift consequences while others avoid scrutiny.
