Dianna Russini is planning a return to sports media, with Barstool Sports reportedly emerging as the leading contender to sign the former NFL insider. This comes after The Athletic released its investigation into Russini's conduct following an affair scandal involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
According to reports, Russini has been in discussions regarding several new job opportunities. These possibilities range from resuming her role as a professional football insider to taking on an opinionist or personality-driven position. While a final decision has not yet been made, an announcement is expected soon with the NFL season set to begin next week.
Barstool Sports is identified as the "lead candidate" to hire Russini. She has established friendships with prominent Barstool personalities Dan "Big Cat" Katz and PFT Commenter, having previously appeared on their podcast multiple times. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy has previously expressed openness to hiring Russini, stating that a deal would be a "no-brainer" and that her reported affair with Vrabel should not end her professional career.
The Athletic's five-month investigation, conducted by editorial director for standards and editorial quality Mike Semel, found that Russini was "noncompliant" with the company's standards due to her relationship with Vrabel. The report noted a "clear violation of standards" and a breach of policy that should have been disclosed, regardless of the romantic nature of the relationship.
Russini stepped down from The Athletic, which is owned by the New York Times, in March after photographs surfaced of her and Vrabel at a resort. The investigation reviewed hundreds of stories and podcast episodes authored by Russini and interviewed numerous colleagues. While the report found limited evidence of bias in Russini's reporting on Vrabel, it did acknowledge instances where she wrote "glowingly" of him, which in hindsight could be considered awkward.
Semel's report stated that while access to Vrabel might have been questionable in one instance involving an article about his coaching transition, the journalism itself met The Athletic's standards. The investigation did not uncover the specific nature of the relationship, as both Russini and Vrabel denied having an affair. Vrabel himself has largely avoided commenting on the matter, stating his focus is on the upcoming NFL season.
One former colleague, Mike Silver, has publicly defended Russini's journalism, describing her as a "really good friend" and praising her ability to maintain connections with key figures across the league. Silver anticipates her return to sports media, possibly in a capacity that involves discussing football and other topics.
