Dianna Russini is returning to NFL media seven months after resigning from The Athletic. In an exclusive interview with People, she credits players, friends and family for pushing her back.
What We Know: Russini built her reputation as a premier NFL insider at ESPN and The Athletic. However, Page Six published photos in April of her embracing Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona hotel. Both, who are married to other people, denied impropriety, but Russini resigned. Then, in September, The Athletic’s internal investigation found the relationship “was in clear violation” of its standards. Now, Russini has announced her own weekly show, The Russini Report, which debuts Wednesday. She will also be a frequent guest on a new Nobody’s Safe podcast featuring Jon “Stugotz” Weiner.
In her first exclusive interview following the happenings of the past year with People Magazine, Russini explained why she took time away. In addition to choosing the route in which she is making her return to sports media.
What They Said: (All quotes via People Magazine):
Dianna Russini on describing the past months following her resignation from The Athletic: “The best way to describe what the last six months were like for me is heartbreaking. At the beginning of this, it was a nightmare.”
Dianna Russini on her relationship with Jon “Stugotz” Weiner: “In a time when it was easy to pile on, and I think people were enjoying watching my career fall apart, Jon was really bold and loyal, and he was a friend to me.”
Dianna Russini on the amount of support she received within the NFL: “The absolute best part of this situation has been the loyalty the NFL has shown me. They checked in with me almost daily while I wasn’t working, Making sure that I was staying connected to football, to check on me as a person and to just see how I was doing. I felt like players were texting and calling me to say, ‘Get back to work, it’s time. I think it’s pretty poetic. That here I was all these years telling the story about these players going through adversity. Then they became sort of the people that I was learning from during this.”
Dianna Russini on having no fear in returning to cover those in the NFL that supported her: “I’m using a lot of that as motivation, and it’s why I’m so energized. It’s why I’m not scared to get back in because I know the people that I cover are welcoming me back with open arms.”
Dianna Russini on why she and her husband deleted their social media accounts: “The lies became so out of control. This was a runaway train, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Once we realized nothing was going to stop this, it became unhealthy for us to read it because it wasn’t helping us heal. It was piling on and adding to what we were already dealing with.”
Dianna Russini on what this experience taught her: “I would not wish that experience on any person ever. But through it, I did get an opportunity to not just learn about myself. Also, my family and our priorities, and maybe some decisions and things I was doing in my career, and putting it before what I really wanted most, which was to be a mom. And while it was so hard at first, feeling their love and support helped me believe that, ‘Wait, I know I can go back to doing this. I know that they’re settled. I know that we’re a unit, and no one is going to come between us. Nothing’s going to break us.’ ”
Dianna Russini on what she hopes her return will show: “I really hope that I can be someone other women see: you can pick yourself up, get back in there and not be afraid. Because if you just do the work — and I hope to continue working at a high level — that’s all that’s going to matter. And I hope that quiets the noise.”
What Remains Unclear: Still, it’s unclear whether a larger network will eventually bring Russini back. Additionally, she hasn’t said how she will handle reporting on Vrabel or the Patriots. Questions also linger about how audiences will weigh The Athletic’s findings against her denials. Likewise, BetUS hasn’t disclosed the length of her deal.
What It Means: Ultimately, Russini is returning on her own terms, with a platform built around her opinions. The Russini Report streams Wednesdays at noon ET on BetUS TV, along with a companion column. Her first guests, Bill Parcells and Damon Amendolara, show her industry connections remain strong. Moreover, she will contribute to Weiner’s Nobody’s Safe podcast. Whether or not Russini earns the credibility around the league is still a question waiting for an answer.
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