Dianna Russini is expected to return to the spotlight, it’s just a matter of when.
After Page Six shared photos of Russini spending time with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a hotel in Arizona, she resigned from her role with The Athletic. Although she hasn’t said anything since that moment, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports said she’s “absolutely” planning a return to sports media.
“Russini hasn’t decided on her next play,” McCarthy wrote. “But with the kickoff of the new pro football season only six days away, the former ESPN reporter is expected to make her move sooner rather than later.”
According to Page Six, the plan is for Russini to share her side to the Vrabel story once she lands a new job.
“A source familiar with the situation told Page Six this week that the former Athletic journalist, who resigned from her position in April amid an investigation into her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, will share her side of the scandal upon taking her next job,” Page Six reported. “Russini, 43, hopes to speak on the matter and move past it once and for all, the source added.”
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The Athletic investigated Russini’s reporting.
Mike Semel, The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, reviewed 903 stories and 204 podcast episodes that Russini worked on to see if she violated the publication’s standards.
Even though Russini’s work for The Athletic didn’t show clear bias towards Vrabel and the Patriots, her relationship with the coach violated their standards.
Despite this scandal, Russini is expected to land a prominent job in the near future. It’ll be fascinating to see which network or publication gives her a second chance.
