The National Football League has chosen not to launch an investigation into New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel following a controversy involving published photographs of him with former Athletic sports reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.
League spokesperson Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press on Saturday that the NFL will not pursue an investigation into the incident. The New England Patriots organization has not yet responded to inquiries about whether they plan to conduct their own internal review of Vrabel’s conduct.
Last week, The New York Post released photographs showing Vrabel and Russini together at a Sedona hotel, reportedly captured prior to the NFL’s annual meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29.
According to the NFL’s personal conduct policy: “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in’ the NFL.”
Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl champion during his playing career with New England, is entering his second year leading the Patriots. He earned AP NFL Coach of the Year honors after guiding the team to a 14-3 record last season, which concluded with a 29-13 Super Bowl defeat to Seattle. Vrabel previously received the same coaching award while with Tennessee in 2021.
Following the publication of the images, both Vrabel and Russini, who are each married, issued statements to the Post minimizing the significance of what the photographs showed.
Russini became part of The Athletic’s team in 2023 following almost ten years with ESPN, where she served in multiple capacities including “SportsCenter” host, NFL analyst and insider reporter. At The Athletic, she produced a podcast and appeared on the platform’s video content.
In her resignation statement, Russini wrote: “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published.”
