Dianna Russini, a former NFL insider, made a critical remark about Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during a traffic stop in January. The incident, captured on video, occurred when Russini was pulled over for texting while driving. As the officer identified himself as a Vikings fan, Russini commented, "Your quarterback sucks though," referencing McCarthy.
Russini, who recently resigned from The Athletic, was on her phone breaking news about the Buffalo Bills head coach potentially being fired. The officer recognized Russini and, after she showed him a text exchange with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, he decided to let her go with a warning.
McCarthy, the Vikings' No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, experienced a challenging 2025 season marked by injuries. In March, the Vikings signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal, and both quarterbacks are expected to compete for the starting role.
The incident gained renewed attention following a New York Times article that highlighted Russini's account of the traffic stop. In February, Russini had discussed the encounter on the “Stugotz and Company” podcast, claiming she had FaceTimed the officer's favorite head coach, who then allegedly advised the officer to let her go.
A spokesperson for The Times Company stated that Russini's storytelling on the podcast was "unacceptable conduct" and that editors at The Athletic were unaware of the story. Russini is reportedly under review by her former employer to determine if her reporting was influenced by her relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, with whom she was photographed at a resort in March. Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14.