Senior NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic, the New York Times-owned publication, following an internal probe into her conduct. The investigation began after photographs surfaced showing her in intimate contact with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at a resort.

Executive editor Steven Ginsberg confirmed the departure in an internal memo, stating leadership took the matter seriously despite initial instincts to defend the colleague. Russini argued the escalating media frenzy, fueled by repeated leaks, had already caused irreparable damage, compelling her to step aside before her contract expired June 30.

The core issue centers on The Athletic’s editorial guidelines, which strictly forbid any journalism activity that creates, or appears to create, a conflict of interest. Russini, who joined the outlet in 2023, maintained she stood behind all published work and called the interaction “innocent,” though photos showed hand-holding and embracing.

Vrabel also dismissed the photos as innocent interactions among a larger group. Russini’s exit closes a difficult chapter for The Athletic, forcing the publisher to review her entire body of work while navigating accusations of internal information leaks surrounding the sensitive investigation.