Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dianna Russini plans to speak out once she lands her next job
Dianna Russini plans to tell her side of the story regarding her alleged affair with Mike Vrabel when the time is right. That time, it appears, is when she’s hired by a new company.
According to reports, former ESPN and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini plans to tell her side of the story surrounding her departure from The Athletic and the Mike Vrabel controversy “once and for all” after she lands her next position.
Dianna Russini plans to tell her side of the Vrabel story after landing her next job
With the NFL season beginning this week, Barstool Sports remains the leading candidate to hire her, with Dan LeBatard’s Meadowlark Media also floated as a potential landing spot for the disgraced NFL insider. Russini finding a new gig before the start of the NFL season, however, has been categorized as being “unlikely.”
“A source familiar with the situation told Page Six this week that the former Athletic journalist will share her side of the scandal upon taking her next job. Russini, 43, hopes to speak on the matter and move past it once and for all, the source added.”
“The source noted that Russini continues to mull offers from several outlets, and it’s possible she accepts more than one gig. Russini, the source continued, was inundated with interview requests from major networks, podcasts and even reality television shows as the scandal unfolded, but she rejected them all in favor of speaking on her own terms at the right time.” [via Page Six]
Given how interested the sports media world is in hearing Russini’s side of the story, the prospect of getting it as an exclusive is likely a factor in sports media outlets wanting to land her services.
The Athletic‘s internal review, published last week, found that Russini’s undisclosed relationship with Vrabel violated journalistic standards but identified no inaccuracies or bias in her reporting. Vrabel, who missed a day of the NFL Draft for counseling after the story broke in April, said he has “no reaction” to the findings.
Vrabel and the Patriots will kick off the 2026 NFL season when they head to Seattle for a Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. EST.