Before the scandal involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel blew up her professional life, Dianna Russini was making bank.
Russini, 43, had an annual salary of close to $800,000 as The Athletic’s senior NFL insider, according to a story published by The New York Times on Wednesday, June 24.
That figure reportedly made her one of the one of the highest-paid journalists at the New York Times Company, which owns The Athletic.
At the time the scandal broke, The Athletic was negotiating with Russini about renewing her contract, which was set to expire at the end of June.
That, of course, never came to fruition after Page Six published photos of Russini and Vrabel, 50, together at a luxury Arizona resort in April. The photos, which showed the two linking hands and sharing a hot tub, were taken the previous month.
Other outlets, including TMZ, subsequently published additional photos of Russini and Vrabel — who are both married with children — from as far back as March 2020, when they were seen kissing at a New York City bar.
One week after Page Six shared the initial photos of the Russini and Vrabel, she announced her resignation.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” she said in a written statement shared via social media on April 14. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.”
Russini continued, “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling 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 inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. 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.”
Despite her resignation, Russini has never directly addressed her relationship with Vrabel or admitted to having an affair with the head coach.
Vrabel has also largely skirted around the issue during public remarks, but he briefly left the Patriots during the 2026 NFL Draft in April to attend counseling.
“I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” he said in a statement on April 22. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
The statement continued, “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
