Dianna Russini Found Noncompliant with The Athletic's Standards

Dianna Russini, a former NFL insider, was found to have violated The Athletic’s standards due to her undisclosed relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, according to a report released following a lengthy inquiry.

The investigation, which lasted nearly five months, revealed that while Russini's relationship with Vrabel was the subject of speculation, there was limited evidence that it influenced her reporting. Russini resigned in April after photos surfaced showing her and Vrabel together, prompting scrutiny of her conduct.

The inquiry, led by The Athletic’s editorial director for standards, Mike Semel, reviewed numerous articles and videos involving Russini. It concluded that she should have disclosed her relationship to allow for proper editorial oversight. Despite the findings, the report indicated that most of her work did not focus on Vrabel, and there was no clear evidence of favoritism in her coverage.