Matthew Berry, a prominent fantasy football expert and founder of the eight-figure media company Fantasy Life, addressed the prospect of hiring former sports journalist Dianna Russini. Russini stepped down from The Athletic in the summer amid an investigation into her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
In an interview with OutKick, Berry stated that he considers Russini a friend and acknowledges her significant talent. "I think she’s really, really talented and good on air," Berry said. He also noted that during their time together at ESPN, Russini consistently demonstrated professionalism, preparedness, and energy.
However, Berry indicated that any hiring decision for Fantasy Life would hinge on practical business considerations. "So, you know, the question would become, can we afford her? What is she going to do for the company? Because we don’t really break news," he explained. He clarified that Fantasy Life's business model focuses on providing premium tools and content to help users win fantasy leagues and betting games, rather than breaking news.
Berry outlined his hiring criteria, emphasizing how a potential employee fits within the team, their salary expectations, and their ability to monetize their contributions. "Is that person going to do a show for us? Is that person going to be a contributor across the shows that we have? Do we think that person drives traffic?" he asked. For Fantasy Life, the key is whether a contributor can help sell subscriptions to their Fantasy Life Plus service or drive enough traffic to convert new users.
Berry concluded that while he has "nothing bad to say about Dianna," the decision to hire her would be purely business-driven. He suggested that if hiring Russini made financial sense and aligned with Fantasy Life's goals of selling subscriptions and driving traffic, it would be a possibility, irrespective of her previous journalistic roles or the circumstances surrounding her departure from The Athletic.