On April 11, The Athletic opened an internal investigation into Dianna Russini’s reporting following the fallout from the Mike Vrabel scandal. Now, months have passed, and fans are asking the same question: Why is the investigation still unfinished?
This, however, is not a simple case to sort through, especially after Russini resigned from the publication in April. Still, some fans believe the outlet has taken far too long to reach a conclusion.
Fans Call Out The Athletic For Delaying Verdict in Dianna Russini Investigation
The lack of transparency has given fans room to form their own conclusions.
One fan went straight to the point, writing, “They are hoping people forget.” The same fan then argued, “It’s blatantly obvious. Praying that it goes away quietly and eventually gets swept under the rug. I mean, look at Mike Vrabel, who has already been cleansed of any wrongdoing.”
Another fan took an even more sarcastic approach to the situation.
“You think there’s an internal investigation that will ever see the light of day. That’s adorable.”
The timeline has made the controversy harder to ignore. The story first broke on April 7, when Page Six published photos showing Russini and Vrabel holding hands and embracing at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona.
From there, the situation quickly moved beyond a personal controversy and into a major media story. Russini later resigned from The Athletic on April 14.
Meanwhile, Vrabel missed the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft as he began counseling. He returned to work days later, adding another significant development to an already complicated timeline.
For now, Dianna Russini’s NFL reporting career appears to be over. However, The Athletic’s eventual findings could decide whether she has a path back into sports media.
If the review uncovers serious issues with her reporting, returning to the industry could become much harder.
“I believe either something major has broken and led them down a rabbit hole of info or they are just running out the clock so to speak and hope people forget,” one fan said. “I’m not surprised we don’t know anything.”
Another fan added, “The findings will reflect poorly on The Athletic. Unfortunately, the really excellent journalists will be the real victims.”
For Mike Vrabel, the situation could also carry consequences if more details emerge about his alleged relationship with Russini.
Still, one fan questioned whether anyone would examine his side of the story. “Is anyone going to do a Vrabel investigation?! What did his career and team benefit from it?”
The Athletic’s executive editor Steven Ginsberg offered the clearest timeline two months ago, saying the investigation “is going to take a few more weeks.” Yet those weeks have come and gone without an update.
Naturally, that silence has fueled more criticism from fans who want answers.
One fan summed up the growing frustration by writing, “Have a feeling this is more about protecting their [expletive] and Vrabel’s and less about Russini.”
“They’re trying to drag it out hoping people will forget,” one fan wrote.
Now, the biggest question is timing. The Athletic could provide answers before the NFL season begins, or it could extend a process that fans already believe has gone on too long.
