Photographs emerged showing New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel with The Athletic/New York Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona earlier this week, and now that reporter is the subject of an internal investigation.

Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg initially gave a statement to the New York Post’s Page Six April 7, calling the photos “misleading.”

“These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Ginsberg initially said. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL, and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”

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Now, sources at The Athletic familiar with the controversy told Fox News Digital Russini is being investigated, while standing by Ginsberg’s initial statement.

The sources responded to Fox News Digital after Page Six and Front Office Sports reported on the internal investigation into Russini.

“After Page Six reached out to Dianna for comment on Tuesday, The Athletic immediately began an investigation. While the apparent conduct in the photos raised questions for Steven and leadership at The Athletic, an initial review suggested the images provided lacked context, specifically the presence of a larger group of friends,” a source said.

“New details from the Page Six report and information from the investigation raised additional concerns that are now being further reviewed. The investigation is ongoing.”

The source added Russini’s coverage is being reviewed, which is expected to take time, and she will not be reporting for the outlet in the meantime.

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The New York Times declined to comment.

The photos, originally published by Page Six, show the coach and journalist holding hands and hugging on the roof of a resort bungalow in Sedona, Arizona.

Vrabel addressed the photos, telling Page Six, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini told the outlet, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

The photographs and subsequent responses became the topic of immense national debate in the sports world this week.

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Former NFL quarterback Browning Nagle, a Louisville standout in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, has died, his alma mater announced Friday. He was 57.

Nagle was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year.

He made his pro football debut in 1991 after the New York Jets selected the strong-armed quarterback in the second round. Nagle saw limited action in his rookie season, attempting just one pass, but he moved into the starting role in 1992.

Nagle finished his time as the Jets’ starter with a 3-10 record and seven touchdown passes.

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Boomer Esiason, the 1988 NFL MVP, was traded from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Jets in 1993, relegating Nagle to a reserve role. Nagle joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 before ending his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Nagle was long linked to Brett Favre, whom the Jets had targeted in the 1991 NFL Draft. After failing to trade up, New York selected Nagle after Atlanta took Favre one pick earlier at No. 33 overall.

Months before entering the NFL, Nagle etched his name into college football lore, throwing for 451 yards and three touchdowns in Louisville’s upset win over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl.

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“We are saddened by the passing of Browning Nagle, former Fiesta Bowl MVP quarterback and Louisville great,” the Louisville football program said in a statement. 

“His leadership on the field and passion for the game left a lasting mark on our program.

“Our thoughts are with his loved ones and teammates during this difficult time.”

Nagle had a stint in the Arena League after stepping away from the NFL. After he hung up his cleats, Nagle pursued a career in medical sales.

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A former Washington Post staffer pleaded guilty to one count of child pornography possession Friday, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington, D.C.

Thomas LeGro, 48, an award-winning journalist who served as the Post’s deputy director of video, was arrested in June after the FBI executed a search warrant at his home and seized multiple devices.

“During the execution of the warrant, agents observed what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive hidden under a rug in the basement of the residence,” Pirro’s office wrote. 

“A review of LeGro’s laptop revealed a folder that contained 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse. These videos depicted adult men sexually abusing prepubescent children and forcing them to engage in sex acts.”  

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The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, according to Pirro.

LeGro’ sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2026. 

At the time of his arrest, a Washington Post spokesperson told Fox News Digital LeGro had been placed on leave. The paper has since severed ties with him. 

LeGro began working for the Post in 2000 and left in 2006 for a stint at “PBS NewsHour” before returning to the Post in 2013, according to his LinkedIn page. 

Notably, LeGro was among the Washington Post journalists who earned the paper a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for its investigative reporting of failed Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, several of whom said they were minors at the time. 

Moore denied the allegations mentioned in the Post’s reporting.