The NFL has confirmed it is not investigating New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel following the emergence of photos depicting him and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. This situation has led to Russini’s resignation and an internal inquiry at the New York Times-owned sports outlet.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy communicated to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league does not intend to pursue the matter further. At this time, the Patriots organization has not disclosed whether it plans to conduct its own review of Vrabel’s actions.
The New York Post recently published the aforementioned photos of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona hotel, claiming they were taken prior to the annual NFL meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29.
According to the NFL’s personal conduct policy, it is imperative that all individuals associated with the league refrain from any behavior deemed detrimental to the integrity and public confidence in the NFL.
Vrabel, who celebrated three Super Bowl victories as a player with the Patriots, is gearing up for his second season as the team’s head coach. He was honored as the AP NFL Coach of the Year after guiding the team to a remarkable 14-3 record last season, which ultimately concluded with a 29-13 defeat to Seattle in the Super Bowl. Notably, he received the same Coach of the Year accolade previously while coaching the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
In light of the photographs, both Vrabel and Russini, who are married, issued statements to the Post aimed at mitigating the implications of the images.
Russini, who transitioned to The Athletic in 2023 after spending nearly a decade at ESPN in various high-profile roles including SportsCenter anchor and NFL analyst, expressed her dedication to professionalism in her resignation letter. “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” she stated.
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