Dianna Russini resigns amid Mike Vrabal photo scandal
NFL insider Dianna Russini is resigning from The Athletic amid the ongoing fallout from her leaked photo scandal with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel . According to TMZ Sports , Russini informed the publication on Tuesday, April 14, that she will be stepping aside due to the “self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. ” Russini was hired by The Athletic after leaving ESPN in August 2023 and joined as a senior NFL reporter.
MORE: Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy sounds off on Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal “This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” Russini wrote. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. ” Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images She continued, “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career. ” Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, claim that they are simply friends and that the interaction was not romantic.
They also claimed that there was a larger group of friends present at the gathering, which was not represented in the photos. MORE: Popular sportswriter claims Dianna Russini outrage is ‘double standard’ The Athletic later opened an investigation . Mike Vrabel has not addressed the situation since his initial comments, and those who are interested in what he has to say will have to wait, because he will not be present at the Patriots’ pre-draft press conference .
Jan 23, 2020; Kissimmee, Florida, USA; ESPN NFL Countdown analyst Dianna Russini poses during AFC practice at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —