Former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini, 43, says her life has changed for the worse with the “intense scrutiny and personal attacks” she’s received after being pictured cozying up to married NFL coach Mike Vrabel, 50. “This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally,” the married journalist wrote in a text to The New York Times when asked for comment about the scandal. Russini, who quickly realized she didn’t want to be quoted, requested that her comments not appear in the story and was told that, since she didn’t ask to be off-the-record in the text chain, her comments would be published as is. The former NFL insider then emailed the publisher at The Athletic, along with two senior editors at the Times, to stop the comments from being published, to no avail. This is only the latest blow to Russini, who resigned from her sports reporting position in late March after Page Six published images of her and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at Ambiente Resort in Sedona. A few weeks after the initial story, more photos surfaced showing the two kissing in a Tribeca bar in March 2020. Vrabel, who is still employed by the New England Patriots, said he is seeking therapy and has had some “difficult conversations” with his family.
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