Dianna Russini’s employer confirmed an investigation into the NFL insider’s alleged conduct with NFL head coach Mike Vrabel.
“The Athletic is investigating the conduct of a senior N.F.L. reporter, Dianna Russini, after the publication of photographs that showed her with Mike Vrabel, the head coach for the New England Patriots, according to a person familiar with the inquiry,” The Athletic, owned by The New York Times, reported on Saturday, April 11.
According to The Athletic, Russini will not be reporting during the investigation.
“The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, so as not to call into question their credibility,” said the report.
Russini, 43, has been under hot water since photos of her and Vrabel, 50, were published by Page Six on Tuesday, April 7. One of the photos shows the two — both married — clutching each other’s hands. Another shows them with their arms wrapped around each other.
Both Russini and Vrabel downplayed the photos, claiming that they were at the Arizona resort with a group of friends and any interactions between the two were platonic and innocent.
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said in a statement to Page Six. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Vrabel added, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
The Athletic’s executive editor Steven Ginsberg previously released a statement defending Russini, saying the photos “lack essential context.”
“These were public interactions in front of many people,” Ginsberg said. “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
Russini has worked at The Athletic since 2023, though her contract is up in August — just before the start of the 2026-2027 NFL season.
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999. The couple were college sweethearts at Ohio State University and share sons Tyler and Carter.
Russini has been married to Kevin Goldschmidt, an HR technology vice president at Shake Shack, since September 2020. The pair share sons Michael and Joey.
In February 2026, Russini appeared on the Stugotz and Company radio show and joked about her mother telling her that her “marriage is falling apart.”
“I went right back at her,” Russini claimed. “I said, ‘Why would you say that to me right now while I’m on a trip? That my husband has a girlfriend?’”
Russini previously commented about her husband on a 2021 episode of ESPN’s Get Up, saying she’s “married to someone average,” then adding that if she keeps talking about him on national TV they’re “going to be divorced by Christmas.”
“We’re average together, [and] you know what the worst part is?” she said at the time. “He sent me a text during that segment — not watching, because he actually works for a living — and he said, ‘Good luck day. Be great on Get Up.’ The guy’s got a heart of gold. Here I am on national TV killing him.”
