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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be investigated by the league for a potential violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy after he and top NFL reporter Dianna Russini were photographed together at an exclusive Arizona resort, raising questions about their relationship.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN in an exclusive report detailing the allegations against Russini and Vrabel, who are both married to different people, that the second-year Patriots coach will not be looked at by the league.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 21, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
“NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league is not reviewing Vrabel’s conduct as part of the league’s personal conduct policy, which states players, coaches and managers are required to avoid ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League,'” ESPN reported.
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Photos published by the New York Post’s Page Six earlier this month showed Vrabel and Russini, who worked at The Athletic at the time, at an intimate, adults-only resort in Arizona during NFL meetings. The two were seen hugging, holding hands and sitting by the pool in swimwear.
The hotel was two hours from where the league meetings took place.
Russini and Vrabel both denied any wrongdoing. Russini claimed there were several others “hanging out during the day” who were not captured in the photos. Vrabel added that the photos “show a completely innocent interaction.”
Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California on February 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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But according to ESPN’s latest report, “Russini coordinated with Vrabel how to respond to the Post.” She was also said to have “consulted advisers, including a veteran in crisis communications,” after learning of the story.
The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times, initially supported Russini but later launched an investigation into her reporting. On Tuesday, she announced her resignation.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every single story I have ever published. When the Page Six issue first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. I am grateful for that. In the days since, unfortunately, only commentators in various media have engaged in various media facts,” her letter to The Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg read.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks to reporters at the NFL’s annual meetings in Phoenix on March 31, 2026. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)
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“Furthermore, this media frenzy is rushing forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public investigation that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allow this to continue, I have decided to step aside with my current contract now because I am not expiring the current contract now because I am not expiring in June. accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or let it define me or my career.”
According to Ginsberg’s response to her resignation letter, The Athletic’s review of Russini will continue.
Her contract with the business was due to expire in June.
