Dianna Russini Returns to NFL Reporting Months After Resigning From The Athletic

Dianna Russini is stepping back into sports media, announcing a new role with BetUS Casino & Sportsbook months after leaving The Athletic during scrutiny over her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. The move marks her first major career appointment since her resignation in April. “Football has always been my favorite sport to cover, and I’ve really missed being in the middle of the action,” Russini said in a statement. She said she was eager to break stories, connect with fans and offer insight into the people and matchups shaping the NFL season. The controversy began after photographs surfaced showing Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort. Both denied that anything improper had taken place. Further images later appeared to show them kissing at a New York City bar in 2020. Other reported encounters included a Mississippi casino visit in 2024 and a private boat rental in Tennessee in 2021, when Russini was pregnant with her first child. Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14. Vrabel also faced scrutiny and later said he had difficult conversations with his family; he took time away from the Patriots to attend counseling, according to the article. In September, The Athletic concluded that Russini’s relationship with Vrabel violated its newsroom standards, whether or not it was romantic. The organization’s review found no clear evidence that she used her position to provide him favorable coverage. Russini has maintained that she did nothing inappropriate. Her new position puts her back in the NFL conversation, with a stated focus on reporting, insider perspectives and the stories behind the league’s biggest moments.