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Dianna Russini has told people in the NFL that she plans to return to work next week, according to a source cited by NBC Sports. It is not yet clear where she will work or what role she will take. Russini resigned from The Athletic in April after a controversy involving Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and a subsequent review by the outlet.
Dianna Russini has begun telling people in the NFL that she plans to return to work next week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation cited by NBC Sports. The report does not identify a prospective employer or describe what work Russini will do, leaving the details of her return unconfirmed.
NBC Sports published the report on November 4, 2026, citing a source who said Russini had been getting the word out to people around the league. The source’s account points to a planned return to sports media, but there is no announcement in the report from a network, publication or other employer confirming a position.
Russini resigned from The Athletic in April, one week after the New York Post published photographs of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a resort in Arizona. In comments to the Post and in her resignation letter, Russini denied that there had been impropriety. The photographs and the circumstances surrounding them prompted scrutiny of her relationship with Vrabel and her handling of the story.
The Athletic later released findings from a review of Russini’s work. The review said her relationship with Vrabel violated the outlet’s standards and should have been disclosed, regardless of whether it was romantic. It also criticized her response after the photographs surfaced, including the delay in informing editors and a version of events the review said did not align with the facts.
A Return Under Public Scrutiny
A return would put Russini back in a prominent sports-media setting after a departure that involved both a standards review and questions about trust. If she takes a reporting job, audiences and potential colleagues may want to know what safeguards, if any, will govern her coverage of Vrabel, the Patriots and other people connected to the controversy.
The report establishes only that Russini has told people she expects to return. It does not confirm a new job, a start date beyond “next week,” or whether her next role will involve reporting, broadcasting or another part of sports media. Those distinctions matter: an intention to resume work is not the same as a confirmed hiring or a defined assignment.
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Why Russini Left The Athletic
The controversy began in April, when the New York Post published photographs of Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort. Russini denied impropriety in comments to the newspaper and in her resignation letter. She left The Athletic about a week after the photographs were published.
In early September, The Athletic released the conclusions of a review conducted by Mike Semel. Semel wrote that the relationship breached the publication’s standards and should have been disclosed, whether or not it was romantic. The review also said Russini waited two days after being confronted with the photographs to tell her editors and managers, and described her account of the photographs as inconsistent with the facts.
NBC Sports’ report also refers to a separate episode involving a traffic stop for texting while driving. Russini had publicly recounted that incident and said she FaceTimed a head coach for help with the ticket. The available report does not provide additional documentation or detail about that episode.
“She’ll be returning to work “next week.””
— A source with knowledge of the situation, as cited by NBC Sports
Job Details Remain Unconfirmed
No new employer has been identified, and there is no public confirmation in the report from Russini or a prospective workplace. It is also unclear what her duties would be, whether she has finalized a role, or whether “next week” refers to a confirmed start date or her stated expectation.
The source cited by NBC Sports was not named in the supplied report. The report does not provide a response from Russini, The Athletic or a potential employer about her plans. The Athletic’s review findings are the outlet’s conclusions; Russini’s denials of impropriety remain part of the record.
Watch for a Formal Return
The next concrete development would be confirmation from Russini or an employer specifying whether she is returning, when she will start and what role she will take. Until such details are announced, the reported plan should be treated as an expectation relayed by a source, not a confirmed appointment.
If Russini resumes reporting, the nature of her assignments and any disclosure or editorial standards around relevant coverage may draw attention because of the findings The Athletic published. The current report does not say what steps, if any, she or a new workplace plans to take.
Key Questions
When is Dianna Russini expected to return to work?
A source cited by NBC Sports said Russini has been telling people in the NFL she plans to return next week. The report was published November 4, 2026, but does not give a specific start date.
Where will Russini work?
That has not been disclosed. NBC Sports did not identify a new employer, and the report contains no public hiring confirmation.
Why did Russini leave The Athletic?
Russini resigned in April after photographs of her and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort were published by the New York Post. The Athletic’s later review said their relationship violated its standards and should have been disclosed. Russini denied impropriety in comments to the Post and her resignation letter.
What did The Athletic’s review conclude?
Review author Mike Semel said the relationship breached The Athletic’s standards, whether or not it was romantic. He also criticized Russini’s delay in informing editors and said her explanation of the photographs did not align with the facts.
Source: nbcsports.com
