Dianna Russini Wrote About Mike Vrabel Glowingly Several Times in ‘Awkward or Even Uncomfortable’ Ways, The Athletic’s Review Finds

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An internal review of ex-Athletic reporter Dianna Russini found that she wrote “glowingly” about New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel in ways deemed “awkward.”

On Thursday, The Athletic published the findings from its extensive investigation into Russini’s relationship with Vrabel. Months earlier, the pair came under intense scrutiny when Page Six posted numerous photos of them together.

Russini later resigned from The Athletic, and Vrabel sought counseling amid the controversy.

According to the report from The Athletic editorial director Mike Semel, Russini’s relationship with Vrabel was “in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards.” Semel did note that The Athletic “neither completed an investigation nor reached any conclusion about the nature of the full relationship between Vrabel and Russini.” The photos published by Page Six, however, were enough to determine that their relationship “should have been disclosed.”

Semel also went through all of Russini’s prior reports, noting that just 5% of her published work with The Athletic mentioned Vrabel or the team he was coaching at the time.

Although Semel found the accuracy of the reporting was not compromised, nor did Russini use her platform “to help promote Vrabel,” there were instances of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that “in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable.”

Semel specifically cited a column in which Russini was “effusive” in her praise of Vrabel. She wrote:

Vrabel was once Tennessee Tough. Now he’s returning as New England’s hero. Even though he may be downplaying it, Patriots players want to make a statement for their coach to show they have his back.

Adams Strunk hired Callahan because many in the building believed he was everything Vrabel wasn’t — quieter, softer, more collaborative. She’d grown tired of Vrabel’s act, even if she respected his coaching chops. Vrabel is loud, direct and unapologetically himself. He’s not for everyone. But he never lost his locker room.

Under Vrabel, the Titans reached an AFC Championship Game, consistently overachieved and, most importantly, had an identity.

And if there’s one thing Tennessee should’ve learned from his tenure, it’s this: Nobody ever questioned who the Titans were when Mike Vrabel was their leader.

Semel also clarified that “almost all media were fawning” ahead of Vrabel’s first game against the Titans, so Russini’s “gushing prose” was hardly an outlier.

The director concluded by recommending tighter standards to avoid such a situation in the future.

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