New York Times investigating NFL reporter Dianna Russini after photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel emerge

Photographs emerged showing New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel with The Athletic/New York Times NFL newsman Dianna Russini astatine a edifice successful Arizona earlier this week, and present that newsman is the taxable of an interior investigation.

Athletic enforcement exertion Steven Ginsberg initially gave a connection to the New York Post's Page Six April 7, calling the photos "misleading."

"These photos are misleading and deficiency indispensable context," Ginsberg initially said. "These were nationalist interactions successful beforehand of galore people. Dianna is simply a premier writer covering the NFL, and we’re arrogant to person her astatine The Athletic."

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Cars and taxi cabs question past The New York Times motion supra the entranceway to the newspaper’s firm office successful Times Square successful New York City Jan. 27, 2023. (Yuriy T/iStock)

Now, sources astatine The Athletic acquainted with the contention told Fox News Digital Russini is being investigated, portion lasting by Ginsberg's archetypal statement.

The sources responded to Fox News Digital aft Page Six and Front Office Sports reported connected the interior probe into Russini.

"After Page Six reached retired to Dianna for remark connected Tuesday, The Athletic instantly began an investigation. While the evident behaviour successful the photos raised questions for Steven and enactment astatine The Athletic, an archetypal reappraisal suggested the images provided lacked context, specifically the beingness of a larger radical of friends," a root said.

"New details from the Page Six study and accusation from the probe raised further concerns that are present being further reviewed. The probe is ongoing."

The root added Russini's sum is being reviewed, which is expected to instrumentality time, and she volition not beryllium reporting for the outlet successful the meantime.

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New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel celebrates aft the AFC title crippled against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field At Mile High Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver, Colo. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The New York Times declined to comment.

The photos, primitively published by Page Six, amusement the manager and writer holding hands and hugging connected the extortion of a edifice bungalow successful Sedona, Arizona.

Vrabel addressed the photos, telling Page Six, "These photos amusement a wholly guiltless interaction, and immoderate proposition different is laughable. This doesn’t merit immoderate further response."

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New England Patriots caput manager Mike Vrabel connected the sideline successful the archetypal fractional of an NFL wild-card playoff crippled against the Los Angeles Chargers, successful Foxborough, Mass., Jan. 11, 2026. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Russini told the outlet, "The photos don’t correspond the radical of six radical who were hanging retired during the day. Like astir journalists successful the NFL, reporters interact with sources distant from stadiums and different venues."

The photographs and consequent responses became the taxable of immense nationalist statement successful the sports satellite this week.

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