The Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal dominated the NFL offseason, unlike anything in recent memory. Although it has been four months since Page Six shared photos of the two, there are still many unanswered questions.
The 2026 NFL season is set to start next month, but the public still doesn’t know what The Athletic’s internal investigation into Russini’s conduct actually found. However, NFL insider Mike Florio recently called out the publication for exactly that.
Mike Florio Questions The Athletic as Investigation of Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Scandal Drags On
The scandal’s timeline has only grown more damaging since it first broke on April 7, when Page Six published photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands and embracing at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona.
Russini then resigned from The Athletic on April 14, just days after the outlet announced the start of its internal investigation. Vrabel also missed the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to begin counseling before returning to work days later.
Page Six published additional photos showing Vrabel and Russini allegedly kissing at a Manhattan bar in March 2020. Then came a TMZ report, which revealed that the pair rented a private boat together in Putnam County, Tennessee, in June 2021 while Russini was pregnant with her first child.
Florio reported that The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, two months ago said that the investigation “is going to take a few more weeks.” However, there has been no update so far.
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“So what happened?” Florio asked. “There are three possible explanations. First, the investigation unexpectedly required more time than Ginsberg expected two months ago. Two, The Athletic is deliberately slow-playing the situation. Three, The Athletic agreed to pull the plug on the investigation as some sort of negotiated compromise with Russini.”
“Whatever the reason(s), “a few weeks” doesn’t mean “a few months.” As of today, it’s two months since it was reported that it would be only a few more weeks,” Florio continued. “And while The Athletic owes no duty to the public to finish and to disclose the outcome of the investigation, the internal consternation regarding the situation surely hasn’t subsided.”
Aaron Rodgers, speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week, raised questions about potential conflict of interest and tampering involving Russini.
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Russini was a Coach of the Year award voter, and Vrabel won the award last season. Moreover, her reporting on A.J. Brown’s last season with the Philadelphia Eagles also coincided with the New England Patriots’ interest in the wideout, whom they eventually traded for.
Russini’s career as an NFL reporter appears over for now, but the investigation’s findings could determine whether that door closes permanently. If the review uncovers any compromised reporting, her path back into media of any kind becomes far more difficult.
For Vrabel, who has received immense support from the Patriots throughout the scandal, more details about his alleged relationship with Russini could also affect his future.
It will be interesting to see whether The Athletic delivers those answers before the season kicks off, or whether they’ll continue to drag the investigation.
