Last week, bodycam video of a Ridgewood, New Jersey, police officer pulling over embattled NFL reporter Dianni Russini surfaced. In it, Russini tells the officer that she’s an NFL reporter and name-drops several coaches across the league. He ended up letting her off with a warning.
On Monday, Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Ross Lyons released a statement explaining the officer’s decision to not give Dianna Russini a ticket. He claimed it had nothing to do with her status as an NFL reporter with famous contacts.
“On January 19, 2026, at 9:40 am, a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a handheld cell phone while driving,“ the statement said. “After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.
“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”
In the more than seven-minute video, Russini informs the officer that she recently spoke with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who “wants the job,” referring to the Buffalo Bills’ coaching vacancy. Later on, Russini asked the officer whose team he preferred. Russini showed him text communications with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell when he replied that it was the Vikings.
The bodycam footage didn’t match the story Dianna Russini told
Interestingly, Dianna Russini appeared on the Stugotz and Company podcast four months ago and claimed that she once FaceTimed an NFL coach while pulled over for speeding, hoping to convince the police officer not to give her a ticket. The bodycam video showed that Russini had, at the very least, exaggerated the story, if not outright lied.
That revelation led to former USA Today reporter Crissy Froyd, who was fired over her comments about Dianna Russini, taking another victory lap on social media.
“Remember when everyone said I was lying about Dianna Russini and/or jealous of her?” Froyd wrote on X.
“I’ll be honest, I knew most of what’s come out about her, but some of the additional info that’s come out has surprised even me in the worst way. She doesn’t deserve to ever work in the industry I’m working in again.”