Dianna Russini is expected to be back in sports media soon, and when she does, the story around her exit from The Athletic may not stay quiet for long.
Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports said Russini is “absolutely” planning a return, writing, “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.”
Page Six reported that Russini’s next move could come with her own explanation attached. According to the outlet, “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.”
Russini stepped away from The Athletic after Page Six published photos of her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a hotel in Arizona. Since then, she has not spoken publicly about the situation. The expectation, per the reporting, is that her first comments will come after she lands another job.
The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and editorial quality, Mike Semel, reviewed 903 stories and 204 podcast episodes produced by Russini. That review did not turn up clear bias toward Vrabel or the Patriots, but her relationship with the coach still ran afoul of the publication’s standards.
Even with the scandal hanging over her departure, Russini is still projected to land a prominent role in sports media. The remaining question is which network or publication gives her that second chance.
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