The Athletic Responds to Dianna Russini's Resignation

Publication insists it took allegations against star NFL reporter seriously from the start.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:33am

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The Athletic's executive editor Steven Ginsberg has issued a detailed internal communication to staff regarding the resignation of NFL insider Dianna Russini. Ginsberg emphasized that the publication took the matter seriously from the outset, conducted an investigation, and ultimately accepted Russini's resignation, while also noting that The Athletic will continue a standards review of her past work.

Why it matters

Russini's resignation comes after photos emerged of her interacting with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest or inappropriate conduct. The Athletic's handling of the situation has drawn criticism from some staffers, who felt the publication's initial response was 'unnecessarily messy,' 'reckless,' and 'intentionally sneaky'.

The details

In the internal communication, Ginsberg stated that while the publication couldn't share details of the investigation, it took the matter seriously from the start. He noted that after initially supporting Russini, new questions emerged that became part of the ongoing investigation. Ultimately, Russini chose to resign, and The Athletic will continue reviewing her past work.

  • Dianna Russini submitted her resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately.

The players

Steven Ginsberg

The executive editor of The Athletic who issued the internal communication to staff regarding Dianna Russini's resignation.

Dianna Russini

A prominent NFL insider who resigned from her position at The Athletic amid an investigation into her conduct.

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots, who was photographed interacting with Dianna Russini, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.

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What they’re saying

“These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we're proud to have her at The Athletic.”

— Steven Ginsberg, Executive Editor, The Athletic

“Amid all of this, I want to sincerely thank everyone for continuing to produce the best sports report in the business. I'm looking forward to focusing on our journalism and continuing our momentum.”

— Steven Ginsberg, Executive Editor, The Athletic

What’s next

The Athletic will continue its standards review of Dianna Russini's past work.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity and transparency, even for high-profile reporters. The Athletic's handling of the matter has drawn criticism, underscoring the need for publications to carefully navigate sensitive allegations against their own staff.