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NFL insider Dianna Russini is under investigation by her employer, The Athletic, and “will not be reporting” for the duration of the probe.

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Russini became embroiled in controversy last week when Page Six published photos of her hugging and holding hands with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort.

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According to the New York Times, which owns The Athletic, “the nature of Russini’s relationship with Vrabel and her coverage are being reviewed and she will not be reporting while the investigation is underway.”

The Athletic’s editorial guidelines state that journalists are required to avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict.

The outlet initially backed Russini, with executive editor Steven Ginsberg saying in a statement to The Post that the photos were misleading and “lack essential context.”

“These were public interactions in front of many people,” he said. “Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”

NBC Sports has reported that Russini’s contract with The Athletic expires in August 2026.

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Are Russini and Vrabel having an affair?

In photos posted on Tuesday by New York Post’s Page Six, the Patriots head coach and the reporter with The Athletic were seen “holding hands and hugging” in an intimate setting at a luxury hotel in Arizona.

In the photos, which reportedly were taken in March, Vrabel and Russini – who are both married to other people – were seen “hugging at sunset and weaving their fingers together as they (stood) face-to-face” before also briefly dancing together.

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According to the outlet, the pair were spotted on a private rooftop area of the Ambiente hotel in Sedona, Ariz., which markets itself as a luxury adults-only getaway destination with scenic views of the Brins Mesa mountain range.

The area where they were photographed reportedly is only accessible from two-person bungalows that cost more than US$2,100 per evening.

While sources close to both Vrabel and Russini say they were at the hotel with other friends, the outlet originally reported that it had received claims from three separate eyewitnesses that Vrabel and Russini had not been seen with anyone else at the hotel.

What did Vrabel and Russini say about the claims?

Both Russini and Vrabel issued stern denials of any wrongdoing or that any sort of affair has taken place.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response,” Vrabel said in a statement.

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini told Page Six. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

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Since the photos were published last week, Russini has made just one post on social media linking to a story regarding the league’s ongoing negotiations with the referee union.

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The post was slammed with replies poking fun at her current situation.

Meanwhile, Vrabel reportedly has opted out of a press conference taking place on Monday.

The Patriots head coach had been expected to speak about his team’s plans for next week’s NFL draft.

Who are their spouses?

Vrabel and his wife, Jen, have been married for more than 26 years and have two sons, according to reports.

Russini has been married to Kevin Goldschmidt, an executive at fast-food restaurant Shake Shack, since 2020. They also have two children together.

Russini currently serves as a senior NFL insider with the Athletic, but worked as a beat reporter for ESPN covering the Tennessee Titans during Vrabel’s tenure as head coach of the team.

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