The Athletic executive editor admits key mistake made in in handling of Dianna Russini controversy: report

The executive editor for The Athletic reportedly admitted he made a correction successful dealing pinch nan Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal.

Steven Ginsberg held an all-hands gathering for nan New York Times-owned company, wherever he said for 10 minutes astir really he believed connection could person been amended than it was pinch unit regarding Russini, per Front Office Sports.

Ginsberg besides reportedly said nan ongoing investigation by The Athletic’s editorial head for standards and editorial quality, Mike Semel, would beryllium lengthy.

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Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown successful a divided composite image featuring Russini pinch an ESPN microphone and Vrabel connected nan Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)

Ginsberg reportedly did not return immoderate questions from staff, though noted he was disposable for each if request be.

Russini resigned from The Athletic earlier this period amid nan mounting disapproval complete her narration pinch Vrabel, nan New England Patriots’ caput coach, aft being photographed hugging and holding hands astatine a backstage edifice successful Sedona, Arizona.

Russini released a connection connected nan matter aft giving her resignation missive to Ginsberg.

DIANNA RUSSINI RESIGNS FROM THE ATHLETIC AMID MIKE VRABEL CONTROVERSY

"I person covered nan NFL pinch professionalism and dedication passim my career, and I guidelines down each communicative I person ever published. When nan Page Six point first appeared, The Athletic supported maine unequivocally, expressed assurance successful my activity and pridefulness successful my journalism. For that I americium grateful. In nan days that followed, unfortunately, commentators successful various media person engaged successful self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from nan facts," Russini’s connection read.

"Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling guardant without respect for nan reappraisal process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I person nary liking successful submitting to a nationalist enquiry that has already caused acold much harm than I americium consenting to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I person decided to measurement speech now — earlier my existent statement expires connected June 30. I do truthful not because I judge nan communicative that has been constructed astir this episode, but because I garbage to lend it further oxygen aliases to fto it specify maine aliases my career."

Ginsberg besides sent a memo to The Athletic staff, wherever he confirmed Russini’s resignation.

"I’m penning to fto you cognize that Dianna Russini has submitted her resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately. While I can’t stock nan specifications of our investigation into Dianna’s conduct, I want to stress that nan activity of The Athletic has taken this matter earnestly from nan infinitesimal that we learned astir it," Ginsberg's memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, read.

ESPN newsman Dianna Russini looks connected during nan NFL crippled betwixt nan Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Heinz Field successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected Sept. 16, 2018. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

"Our sum astatine The Athletic is profoundly rooted successful our integrity and our committedness to earning nan spot of our audience. Our newsroom has thrived because of our halfway journalistic values, and we will ever guarantee they are protected."

Ginsberg primitively stated that nan photos from Page Six were "misleading and deficiency basal context." Vrabel besides addressed nan photos, telling Page Six, "These photos show a wholly guiltless interaction, and immoderate proposal different is laughable. This doesn’t merit immoderate further response."

Russini besides told nan outlet, "Like astir journalists successful nan NFL, reporters interact pinch sources distant from stadiums and different venues."

Since then, photos person surfaced from 2020 showing Vrabel and Russini kissing astatine a barroom successful New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken successful nan early hours of March 11, 2020. 

"They were kissing, and they were each complete each other," an eyewitness told nan outlet. "He had a ringing on."

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, via Getty. (Getty)

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While Russini resigned from her station astatine The Athletic, which she joined successful 2023 aft astir a decade moving for ESPN, Vrabel is backmost pinch nan Patriots pursuing a counseling sojourn connected Day 3 of nan 2026 NFL Draft this past Sunday.

Vrabel said he had difficult conversations pinch his family, while besides speaking pinch his players astir nan situation. The Patriots said earlier nan draught they "fully support" Vrabel, allowing him to activity nan counseling he desired contempt rounds 4-7 of nan draught still left.

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