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Crissy Froyd, the former USA Today NFL reporter who was let go by the outlet due to her comments about Dianna Russini’s alleged relationship with Mike Vrabel, has implied that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is involved in a similar tryst. Froyd has not provided evidence to back up her allegation.
As we reported over the weekend, Crissy Froyd, who was fired from the USA Today in April after publicly criticizing Dianna Russini on social media, published an op-ed in the Daily Mail alleging that “sex for stories” is an open secret in NFL journalism.
According to Froyd, more than six other female reporters have told her they’ve slept with members of NFL coaching staffs that they were covering.
“I’ve been told by at least half a dozen female reporters that they have had sex with NFL staff and, in one case, a prominent NFL head coach, while they were covering the team,” Froyd wrote in the Daily Mail. “It takes a high degree of trust to make such a confession, so I assume that many other similar stories go untold.”
I appreciate The Daily Mail for sharing my thoughts and I appreciate Matthew London for sticking with me every step of the way.
This is a what I know and what I feel. It feels good to say this: https://t.co/dqwcow1dYn
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) May 31, 2026
Former USA Today NFL reporter Crissy Froyd implied that Sean Payton is allegedly involved in a situation similar to the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal
In a follow-up tweet in response to the Daily Mail sharing her article, Froyd said: “Wouldn’t it be funny if Sean Payton and Nick Caserio were involved?”
Payton is the head coach of the Denver Broncos, and Nick Caserio is the general manager of the Houston Texans.
Wouldn’t it be funny if Sean Payton and Nick Caserio were involved? https://t.co/dqwcow1dYn
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) June 1, 2026
In the wake of the Russini-Vrabel scandal, NFL fans actually speculated that something similar may have occurred with Payton after an old clip of Russini discussing the pair’s relationship resurfaced.
Can we get a body language doctor on this 🧐 pic.twitter.com/cHJq1yEOsW
— The r/BillSimmons Podcast (@rBillSimmonsPod) April 25, 2026
Russini has not made any public statements since resigning from The Athletic on April 14, while Vrabel has resumed his role as the Patriots head coach and recently executed the team’s long-gestating trade for AJ Brown.