NYT employees call Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel probe "embarrassing" as investigation drags past two months

Two months after photos of Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced on Page Six, the New York Times has still not wrapped up its internal investigation into the former Athletic reporter. Staff inside the organisation are growing restless, with insiders saying the probe is still "weeks" away from producing any results. Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg acknowledged the delay at a staff meeting last week, telling employees: "It's going to take a few more weeks. There's just a lot to go through, and we obviously want to take our time and be careful doing that."The trouble started almost immediately after the investigation was announced. Ginsberg had initially backed Russini when the photos first appeared, saying the pictures were "misleading and lack essential context," only to reverse course days later after new information emerged and fresh questions were raised. That early flip set the tone for how messy this situation has become.Now, editors at the Times are reportedly questioning why the probe has taken this long. One insider described the situation as "embarrassing" for Athletic staff, with internal concerns growing not just about Russini's conduct, but about the broader culture at The Athletic and how it fits alongside the standards upheld at the Times. Ginsberg did address the staff directly, telling them: "We will update everybody when we get to the end of that. We've also said that if we find anything that needs to be corrected, we will correct it along the way."Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 amid the internal investigation into her relationship with Vrabel, her NFL coverage, and whether she had been truthful with the company about her interaction with the coach. In her resignation statement, she made her position clear: "I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published." She added that she was choosing to leave not because she accepted the narrative being built around her, but because she refused to give it any more oxygen.Vrabel, meanwhile, has continued with business as usual at the Patriots. The team has made clear they intend to move forward with him as head coach despite the off-field drama. He did miss the third day of the NFL Draft to seek counselling after what he described as "difficult conversations" with his family following the release of additional photos. By late May, he was back in front of cameras at a Patriots press conference, speaking warmly about his wife Jen and their children.The investigation is not just about two people's personal lives. The Athletic confirmed it is examining the nature of Russini's relationship with Vrabel, along with a review of her previous coverage of the Patriots — raising broader questions about sourcing, editorial independence, and the journalistic standards expected of reporters who cover the teams they spend time with privately.