The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini saga may be nearing its end.
Months of discussion, rumors and innuendos surrounding The Athletic's former NFL insider and the current New England Patriots head coach resulted in Russini departing her position with the publication in April. Still, months of fallout surrounded the affair.
The latest turn came just a week ahead of the 2026 NFL season, as The Athletic released its report regarding its findings surrounding Russini's content and the role her relationship with the Patriots' head coach had to play in it.
Here's how the entire saga from start to finish unfolded:
Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini controversy timeline
March 27
Vrabel attends Arizona State's pro day in Tempe, Arizona. He is one of many NFL officials at the Sun Devils' event, with Logan Stanley of the Arizona Republic
reporting that 31 of 32 teams are represented.
March 28
Vrabel and Russini meet at the Ambiente, an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona.
A photographer captures Vrabel and Russini holding hands and embracing on the rooftop overlooking Sedona's Red Rocks. Other pictures show the head coach and the NFL insider lounging side by side by the resort's pool and in its hot tub. Page Six later reports that the two also have breakfast together the morning of March 28.
March 29
The NFL's annual league meeting begins at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix.
Vrabel attends the conference as one of the Patriots' representatives. Russini is also present at the league meeting as a media member for The Athletic.
April 2
The Athletic publishes a list of takeaways from the league meeting, with Russini credited as one of two writers on the piece. Vrabel is referenced early in the story, noting that the Patriots' head coach participated in live drills against Arizona State prospects at their pro day less than one week earlier.
April 7
The New York Post publishes the photos of Vrabel and Russini taken at the Ambiente in Sedona on March 28.
Vrabel tells the outlet, "These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn't deserve any further response."
Russini also speaks to the New York Post, saying she and Vrabel were just two members of a larger group present at the Ambiente.
She says, "The photos don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues."
Ginsberg, the executive editor of The Athletic, says in a statement to the New York Post, "These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic."
Additionally, Russini's last byline at The Athletic appears on the outlet's website. The piece is one written off of a report by the NFL insider that Indiana quarterback and presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza won't attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
OPINION: Dianna Russini put credibility of all women in sports at risk
April 10
Front Office Sports (FOS) reports that The Athletic is reopening its investigation into Russini and her reporting. According to FOS, Russini's employer plans to sideline her from any further reporting until the investigation is over.
April 13
The Patriots hold their pre-draft press conference, which Vrabel was not scheduled to attend despite speaking at the even the previous year.
Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf tells reporters that the team's head coach has been "very involved" with player evaluations ahead of the draft at the end of the month.
"Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year," Wolf says.
No reporter asks any further pressing questions about Vrabel in relation to the controversy with Russini.
April 14
Russini resigns from The Athletic.
The NFL insider posts a screenshot of her letter of resignation – in which she references the recent controversy as "attacks against me" – on social media website X.
"I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published," she writes. "When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.
"In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.
"Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now – before my current contract expires on June 30. 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."
According to The Guardian's Jeremy Barr, Ginsberg confirms in a Slack message that The Athletic's standards editor, Mike Semel, will continue to investigate Russini's reporting during her time at the New York Times-owned outlet. Ginsberg also addresses The Athletic's change in response from its initial defense of Russini.
"When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns," he writes in a leaked Slack message, "but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation."
April 20
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tells USA TODAY Sports that Vrabel is not under league investigation for violation of its personal conduct policy.
April 21
One week after Russini's resignation and two weeks after the New York Post published the photos, Vrabel speaks to members of the media for the first time.
In a press conference, the Patriots' head coach admits he has had "difficult conversations" in the weeks since the publication of photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona resort.
"Those (conversations) have been positive and productive," Vrabel says at the press conference. "We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. You never want to be the cause of a distraction.
"What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody – our fans, most importantly − will get the best version of me going forward."
Vrabel tells reporters that he spoke to the Patriots' players on April 20 "very candidly," emphasizing he wanted to speak to them before their own media availability sessions as New England begins its offseason workout program.
When reporters ask Vrabel direct questions about Russini, he declines to provide further answers.
"I respect and I appreciate every single question," he says, "but I'm not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team."
April 22
Vrabel tells ESPN that he "committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," and would miss Day 3 of the draft to do so.
April 23
The New York Post publishes the 2020 photos of Vrabel with a woman in a New York City bar and reports that the woman is Russini.
The Patriots release a statement that they are supporting Vrabel through his decision to step away from the draft to seek counseling.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being," the team writes. "Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment."
TMZ publishes the photos of Vrabel and Russini sharing a moment in the Mississippi casino from 2024.
Vrabel speaks to members of the media at a pre-draft press conference, confirming his plans to step away from the draft during Day 3 while taking further accountability for his actions.
Russini deletes her X social media account.
May 6
TMZ published photos of a document appearing to show that Vrabel and Russini rented a boat together in Putnam County, Tennessee in June 2021.
Citing a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the outlet reported that Vrabel and Russini were the only people the boat for the 2-to-3 hour rental. Russini was pregnant with her first child at the time. TMZ also reported that Vrabel agreed to one picture with the staff, but asked that the picture not be shared publicly.
May 7
TMZ publishes a video of what appears to be Vrabel and Russini on the dock at the boat rental company.
June 18
It is revealed that The Athletic's investigation remains ongoing, according to Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy. The report adds that, "the investigation is limited to the former Senior NFL Insider's journalism for The Athletic, not her conduct."
June 24
The New York Times publish a story about the Russini situation, written by reporters Katherine Rosman and Ken Belson, detailing all the events that led to this point.
The story details the blurring of lines and ethical standards, ranging from podcast clips about using a FaceTime with an NFL head coach to get out of a traffic ticket to hiding the New York Post's intention to publish the initial photos from her bosses for two days.
In the story, the Times says in a text message shared with reporters, Russini labels herself as a "former journalist," potentially signaling the end of her sports-writing career.
Sept. 3
Case closed?
The Athletic's self-investigation concludes, acknowledging that Russini's relationship with the Patriots head coach should have been disclosed to editors. That said, the Athletic didn't find an imbalance or bias in her reporting across content posted to their platform.
"Russini’s relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards," the report reads. "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed."
In response to the report, the Patriots head coach was dismissive.
"No, I don’t have any reaction," Vrabel told reporters. "We're moved on and focused on Seattle and focused on the Patriots and focused on getting better this week."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel timeline, from Arizona to Athletic report
