Dianna Russini's relationship with Mike Vrabel was 'in clear violation' of standards, The Athletic review says

The Athletic has released a long-awaited standards review about former reporter Dianna Russini's relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and it paints the media entity as something of a trusting victim of a reporter who hid truth from her employer.

The report does not attempt to conclude whether Russini had a romantic or physical relationship with Vrabel that helped her reporting through the years.

But the report, authored by The Athletic's editorial director for standards and quality Mike Semel, ultimately decided that the company was uncomfortable with the relationship Russini had with Vrabel.

THE ATHLETIC EXECUTIVE EDITOR ADMITS KEY MISTAKE MADE IN IN HANDLING OF DIANNA RUSSINI CONTROVERSY: REPORT "Russini’s relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards," the report reads.

"Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed." Semel believes Russini didn't use her platform to promote Vrabel.

But he does not delve into the obvious possibility that the reporter used the relationship to help her own career.

"I’ve not found a clear link to conclude that Russini used her platform to help promote Vrabel or help his teams during her time at The Athletic," Semel writes.

"That said, there are examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable." And let's be clear: The Athletic should be "uncomfortable" with Russini covering Vrabel "glowingly" because it raises an unspoken possibility of a quid pro quo exchange between the journalist and the coach that might help her work product The Athletic report cited only one story by Russini that "likely would not have happened were it not for the connection between Russini and Vrabel." The Athletic said its methodology in doing this investigation was extensive.

It ...

A source familiar with the report told OutKick that Russini did not speak with Semel for this report nor was her phone available for inspection by The Athletic.

The report states that on April 7, 2026, Russini contacted executives at The Athletic and The New York Times Company to tell them of an impending Page Six article that would suggest a romantic relationship between her and Vrabel.

She told her bosses the story would include photographs of the pair together, taken at a Sedona, Arizona resort.

Russini apparently acknowledged a close relationship with Vrabel at that time, "but stressed that it was strictly professional," the report states.

Page Six eventually published photos of Russini and Vrabel on the roof of a bungalow holding hands and embracing.