Vrabel Scandal Rocks NFL Journalism | New England Patriots News

The New England Patriots’ 2026 season kicks off against the Seahawks, but Coach Mike Vrabel’s spotlight is overshadowed by a messy offseason scandal involving him and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. Russini has since left The Athletic, and the fallout has ripple effects across women in NFL journalism—reporters say they’re facing increased bias and professional setbacks just for being female. One even recounts an assistant coach refusing to meet her for coffee over the optics. Once seen as an ally to women in sports media, Vrabel’s reputation is now under fire. With the team hoping a winning season can distract from the drama, the real question is whether this controversy will linger—or fade with the first whistle. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c76adc1c9af57952