It’s been three months since the controversy involving former The Athletic insider Dianna Russini and current New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel came to light, and the pair continue to face backlash. More importantly, however, questions remain about the media’s coverage of the controversy and The Athletic’s own handling of the situation.
The publication has yet to conclude its internal investigation, and NFL writer and podcaster Tony Farmer believes it should disclose whether it paid for Russini’s March trip to the luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona, where she was photographed with Vrabel. If it does not, Farmer argues, it would raise major concerns, and Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, appears to agree.
Jordon Hudson Wants The Athletic to Disclose Details of Dianna Russini’s Sedona Trip
The Russini-Vrabel controversy first surfaced in early April when Page Six published photos of the pair holding hands and embracing at Ambiente, a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. Both denied any romantic involvement, but the story escalated after photos from 2020 surfaced showing the two allegedly kissing.
Farmer has closely followed the controversy ever since and has been particularly critical of what he sees as the silence from major sports media outlets. He has also questioned whether The Athletic, and even ESPN, Russini’s former employer, were aware of the alleged relationship.
With The Athletic’s investigation still ongoing, Farmer argued that the publication should clarify whether it funded Russini’s Arizona trip, as spending time on that assignment with Vrabel could potentially violate the company’s editorial standards.
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“If The Athletic doesn’t address ‘who paid for Sedona’ in its review, it will be a MAJOR red flag,” he wrote. “They won’t have access to Vrabel or Russini’s personal expenditures, so they may not be able to answer the question definitively, but they can easily address whether The Athletic paid or not.
“This is straight from The Athletic’s editorial standards, so if this investigation is really about her journalism and finding the truth, this ought to be addressed.”
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Hudson, who has taken a keen interest in the controversy, appeared to agree with Farmer’s stance by liking his post.
Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson likes this tweet and seems to agree that if The Athletic doesn’t address the question of who paid for the Sedona resort, it’s a MAJOR red flag. pic.twitter.com/FOjFblerKM
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) July 7, 2026
Hudson and Belichick have been dating since 2023, and their relationship has frequently drawn negative attention, particularly because of their age gap and Hudson’s prominent role in the legendary coach’s professional life.
At the same time, many in the sports media have largely avoided covering the Russini-Vrabel controversy. That apparent double standard has seemingly frustrated Hudson, who has continued to subtly express her disapproval while questioning the media’s coverage.
It remains to be seen whether The Athletic will publish a transparent report regarding its former employee. Until then, Hudson and others who believe they have been subjected to unfair scrutiny are likely to continue questioning what they see as a double standard in sports media.