A recent New York Times story has detailed the fallout from a scandal involving former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini and NFL coach Mike Vrabel, revealing that Russini's annual salary at The Athletic was close to $800,000. This figure reportedly made her one of the highest-paid journalists within the Times Company.
The extensive report, which The Athletic's executive editor has acknowledged was mishandled, comes months after the initial controversy. The Times Company, which owns The Athletic, released a comprehensive account of the situation. According to a former manager with knowledge of her salary negotiations, Russini's compensation neared $800,000 annually.
The report noted that while this salary is substantial, it is not unprecedented in the realm of high-profile sports insiders. For comparison, ESPN reporters Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski reportedly earn significantly more, with Schefter's salary estimated at $9 million and Wojnarowski's at around $7 million annually before his departure.
The publication of the lengthy story on a seemingly random day in June suggests further developments related to the Russini-Vrabel situation may be forthcoming as the NFL offseason continues.