The Walt Disney Company endured layoffs of 7,000 employees across its divisions to slash $5.5 billion in operating costs earlier this year, which was followed with cuts of several prominent on-air talents at ESPN. From its lead NBA analysts in Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy; to its Monday Night Countdown host in Suzy Kolber, the company had to make several difficult decisions ahead of reporting its financial data for the first time this fall. ESPN is being viewed as its own core business segment as part of a reorganization of the company under Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger shortly after his return to the role.
NFL reporter Dianna Russini told NBC Sports journalist Peter King that she felt that ESPN did not want her, despite reportedly being offered a raise to remain with the company. She made the difficult decision to depart the “Worldwide Leader” when it became apparent to her that she would be unable to evolve in her role and grow. As a result, Russini inked a contract with The Athletic to serve as The New York Times Company-owned outlet’s senior NFL insider. In her new role, she is writing both short- and long-form articles covering the sport while contributing to audio and visual verticals within the content medium as well.
For Pat McAfee, it was a disappointing outcome that put a damper on the multi-year, multimillion dollar contract he had signed to bring his eponymous digital program, The Pat McAfee Show, to ESPN’s airwaves. McAfee had welcomed Russini onto the program throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she became a frequent contributor with insider information and shrewd perspectives on the game.
Russini previously worked in the New York marketplace as a reporter for WNBC-TV and has various connections within the New York Jets organization. As a result, she was able to report, in real time, what was going on with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he left the game with an injury. After an MRI on Tuesday morning revealed a complete tear of his left Achilles tendon, the expectation is that Rodgers will be out for the season.
McAfee began his program with a despondent tone and wished Rodgers, who is a frequent guest on the program, the best in his recovery. He then mentioned the reporting prowess of Russini and how her departure from ESPN has harmed their show, calling it “a shame.”
“Literally we signed with ESPN, [and] one of the first days to access ESPN talent, we’re like, ‘Can we get Dianna Russini on, please?,’” McAfee said. “She comes on the show [and] I thought it was great.”
Based on McAfee’s comments, there is a chance that Russini would have been a part of the show’s football coverage had she still been employed by ESPN. While the program is allowed to have on guests who work for other media affiliates, the purview The Athletic has over where Russini lends her insights is not known.
“We were pumped to be teammates with her, and then all of a sudden, boom, [she] goes to The Athletic,” McAfee said. “Congrats to The Athletic on getting an absolute dawg in the insider game.”
