Mitsu Yasukawa / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ESPN's Dianna Russini photographed for (201) Magazine at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, NJ on Aug. 24, 2020.
In a recent bombshell report by The New York Times, the paper took a deep dive into the life of former NFL reporter Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
As part of the story, reporters Katherine Rosman and Ken Belson recalled a recent podcast appearance by Russini, where she claimed to use her position covering the NFL to get out of a speeding ticket.
More specifically, Russini went on the “Stugotz and Company” radio show and podcast and explained that she once FaceTimed an NFL coach while pulled over for speeding in hopes of convincing the police officer not to give her a ticket.
Now, we officially have the body cam video from the incident, and to the surprise of nobody who has followed Russini’s saga in recent months, it turns out she wasn’t exactly telling the truth.
Dianna Russini Did Not FaceTime NFL Coach To Get Out Of Ticket
Anthony Herberts, a reporter for nonpartisan public interest news organization The Center Square, took to X on Monday evening to reveal that he’d acquired the body cam footage from the traffic stop that Russini references.
In the video, which shows Russini having a conversation with the officer who made the stop, she does tell him that she’s an NFL reporter and name-drops several coaches across the league.
BREAKING – I have the bodycam video of Dianna Russini namedropping her way out of a ticket for texting while driving.
She claimed she got off by allowing the cop to FaceTime with his favorite NFL head coach. This video shows something a little different.https://t.co/HIUkgGh7Y0
— Adam Herbets (@AdamHerbets) June 30, 2026
She mentions breaking the news of Sean McDermott’s firing as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills and that former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll wants the job.
Russini then asks the New Jersey officer if he’s a fan of the Jets or Giants. When the officer informs her that he’s actually a Vikings fan, she shows him a text exchange with Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell (and claims that the Vikings’ quarterback sucks).
Ultimately, the officer lets Russini off with a warning but tells her to be safer going forward. However, at no point in the interaction does Russini ever FaceTime a head coach in hopes of avoiding a ticket.