AP Mum on Potential Review of Dianna Russini's NFL Awards Ballots

Concerns raised over Russini's voting record after photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel surfaced.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a football game or competition, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange colors overlapping to create a sense of motion and energy.The complex, multi-faceted nature of sports awards voting raises questions about impartiality and transparency.Allen Today

Despite Dianna Russini's recent resignation from The Athletic, the company continues to review her reporting in the aftermath of the photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel that emerged twelve days ago. Since 2022, Russini has had one of the 50 ballots for the annual Associated Press/NFL awards and the All-Pro team, raising questions about potential bias in her voting.

Why it matters

The AP awards are the official NFL honors, and people wager money on the outcomes. The voting process requires impartiality, so any perceived conflicts of interest or bias could undermine the integrity of the awards.

The details

The AP has not responded to inquiries about whether they are reviewing Russini's past ballots, particularly her 2025 Coach of the Year vote where she gave her first-place vote to Vrabel. There are questions about where Russini ranked other perceived top candidates like Jaguars coach Liam Coen and Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald.

  • In 2024, the AP released all ballots without prior notice to the voters.
  • In 2025, the AP did not release the ballots after the awards were announced.

The players

Dianna Russini

A former reporter for The Athletic who resigned after photos emerged of her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, whom she had voted for as Coach of the Year in 2025.

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots, who won the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year award.

Liam Coen

The head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who finished second in the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year voting.

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who finished third in the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year voting.

Ben Johnson

The head coach of the Chicago Bears, who finished fourth in the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year voting.

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What they’re saying

“I was out to dinner and my phone was blowing up with people in football very angry that I voted for people that I voted for. That stunk. I wish I knew that because — it would not have changed my vote — but I love Josh Allen, and I am avoiding him for a really long time.”

— Dianna Russini, Former Reporter, The Athletic

What’s next

The Associated Press and the NFL have not indicated whether they will review Russini's past voting record in light of the recent developments.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of impartiality and transparency in the voting process for major sports awards. The AP and NFL should consider reviewing Russini's ballots to ensure the integrity of their official honors.