The Athletic has opened an internal investigation into NFL insider Dianna Russini’s explanation of photos showing her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. This comes even after the outlet’s executive editor had publicly defended her. The photos show the two at Ambiente Sedona, an adults-only luxury resort in Arizona, where they were photographed lounging poolside, sitting in a hot tub, and hugging and holding hands on a private rooftop.
According to Brobible, Russini had previously said, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, also backed her up, saying, “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
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The resort’s location, price, and additional photos from Indianapolis make this situation harder to dismiss
Now, The Athletic is reportedly pressing Russini for proof that six other people were present when the photos were taken. Both Russini and Vrabel are married and have children, which adds to the sensitivity of the situation.
Vrabel called the story “laughable,” saying, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.” Ambiente Sedona is more than a two-hour drive from where the NFL’s owners’ meetings were held, which weakens the idea that the two simply crossed paths at a league event.
Staying there costs between $1,800 and $3,000 per night, making it an unlikely casual stop. This is not the kind of place NFL figures end up at by chance, and it raises questions about how NFL owners and executives handle poor leadership decisions when things go public.
An additional photo of the pair also surfaced from a bar in Indianapolis, taken around the time of this year’s NFL Combine. This, combined with the seemingly candid nature of all the photos, has led many to suspect they were taken by a private investigator.
Before the photos were published, they were reportedly offered to multiple media outlets, says The Front Office. TMZ received a tip and was offered the photos for a “four-figure” sum. The anonymous tipster was not from a known paparazzi agency.
TMZ staffers identified Russini in the photos after the tipster described an “unidentified woman,” and the outlet debated internally whether the story was “too bedroom police-y” before the images were published elsewhere. The situation is a reminder of how sports scandals can spiral quickly, much like how a coach’s misconduct can unravel a program’s credibility.
Meanwhile, former NFL backup quarterback Chase Daniel is stepping away from “Scoop City,” the podcast he co-hosted with Russini. His departure follows the expiration of his contract. The Athletic said the show has been “in transition since the Super Bowl as we explore changes to the podcast.”
Despite the public denials from both Russini and Vrabel, and The Athletic’s initial public support, the outlet’s decision to quietly investigate shows it is taking the matter seriously and wants to verify the facts on its own.
Published: Apr 11, 2026 01:00 pm