It's been two months since Dianna Russini stepped down from her role at The Athletic, and the sports world is still waiting for answers. Now, according to a new report, editors at the New York Times have made a firm commitment: an update is on the way.
Page Six reported Monday that top editors have reiterated promises to deliver findings from the investigation into Russini's conduct. The probe was launched after photos surfaced showing the prominent NFL insider in personal—and reportedly romantic—situations with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel over the years.
While Russini has denied any improper behavior, she resigned in February, writing in a statement: "I do not do so because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen."
The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, has been tight-lipped about the investigation since then. But that silence has started to raise eyebrows inside the building. "Some inside the New York Times building are beginning to wonder what's taking so long," the Page Six report noted.
Steven Ginsberg, The Athletic's top editor, acknowledged the delay but assured staff that progress is being made. "It's going to take a few more weeks," Ginsberg said, according to the report. "There's just a lot to go through, and we obviously want to take our time and be careful doing that. We will update everybody when we get to the end of that."
The situation has drawn comparisons to other recent controversies in sports media, including the fallout from CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell's vacation photo that sparked a meltdown among fans. But the Russini case is particularly sensitive due to the power dynamics between a reporter and a head coach.
Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder, has been vocal about the drama, recently admitting he's afraid to face Mike Vrabel after the whole ordeal. The situation has also reignited debates about journalistic ethics and conflicts of interest in sports reporting.
As the investigation drags on, the promise from editors suggests that a resolution—or at least a clearer picture—could finally be coming. Whether that will satisfy critics or raise more questions remains to be seen.
For now, Ginsberg's message is clear: patience is still required. "If we find anything that needs to be corrected, we will correct it along the way," he added. The sports world will be watching closely.
