Dianna Russini facing internal review, sources report

Investigation Launched Following Photo of NFL Coach and Reporter

A photo that surfaced this week, showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Deanna Russini at a resort in Arizona, has prompted an internal investigation.

Stephen Ginsburg, editor-in-chief at The Athletic, spoke to the New York Post on April 7 about the photo, calling it “misleading.”

He stated, “These photos lack important context and depict public interactions in front of many people. Deanna is a top journalist in NFL coverage, and we’re very proud to have her at The Athletic.”

Now, sources within The Athletic have confirmed to Fox News Digital that Russini is under investigation, but they support Ginsburg’s earlier remarks.

Responding to inquiries about the situation, officials from The Athletic noted that they had initiated an investigation after Page Six reached out to Russini for her comments. They suggested that while the actions depicted in the photo raised questions, there was a lack of context provided, especially considering the presence of a larger group of friends.

“New information from the six-page report and the investigation are raising further concerns, which are being looked into,” the source added, indicating that the investigation is still ongoing.

The person informed that Russini’s reporting is now under review, a process that may take some time, and she won’t be covering stories for the outlet during this period.

The New York Times opted not to comment on the matter.

The published photo shows Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging on a resort rooftop in Sedona, Arizona. Vrabel commented to Page Six, asserting, “These images depict a completely innocent interaction, and any implication otherwise is ridiculous. This doesn’t merit any more attention.”

Russini also made a statement, saying the photo does not illustrate a group of six people spending time together during the day, noting, “Like many NFL journalists, we interact with our sources outside of stadiums and other venues.”