Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel aren’t letting the Athletic’s findings into their alleged affair ruffle their feathers.
Russini and Vrabel both gave their reaction to the Athletic publishing the results of their internal investigation into her work Thursday, in which they dubbed her relationship with New England Patriots coach a “clear violation” of newsroom standards.
Russini told the Athletic in a statement, “I stand by any and all reporting I’ve ever done in my career.”
Vrabel was also asked about the report Thursday in a press conference, to which he responded, “No, I don’t have any reaction to that.”
“We’re moved on and focused on Seattle and focused on the Patriots and focused on getting better this week,” he continued.
Mike Semel, the Athletic’s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, wrote in the outlet’s report published on the company’s website, “Regardless of whether the relationship [between Russini and Vrabel] was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed.”
But he also noted, “I’ve not found a clear link to conclude that Russini used her platform to help promote Vrabel or help his teams during her time at The Athletic.”
“That said, there are examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable.”
Semel noted that “the vast majority of Russini’s work for The Athletic had nothing to do with Vrabel, the teams he was coaching or the players the team was pursuing.”
Russini resigned from her senior role at the New York Times’ sports site in April after Page Six published photos of her and Vrabel — who are both married to other people — holding hands and hugging at an Arizona resort.
Both denied any wrongdoing in statements.
The two were also caught kissing at a New York City bar back in March 2020 — six years before they were caught showing PDA at an Arizona resort — in pics published by Page Six.
While stepping back from her job, Russini insisted, “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published.
“I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept,” she continued. “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now. … I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Meanwhile, in April, Vrabel said he was seeking counseling in the wake of the scandal.
“This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them,” he said in a press conference.
“I have always wanted to lead by example and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” he added.
Both Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 51, remain married to their respective spouses — Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldchmidt and former Ohio State volleyball player Jen Vrabel.
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