A New Jersey police chief has provided an explanation for why sports reporter Dianna Russini was issued a warning, not a ticket, for using her cell phone while driving. The incident, captured on bodycam footage, occurred on January 19, 2026, on Godwin Avenue in Ridgewood.
Chief Forest Ross Lyons of the Ridgewood Police Department stated that the officer involved followed department protocol and reviewed Russini's driving history before exercising professional discretion. "The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice," Lyons said in a statement obtained by NBC Sports. "Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing."
In the footage, Russini is seen being pulled over on a snowy day. She informed the officer that she was breaking news about the firing of Sean McDermott, the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and mentioned being on the phone with former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll. She then asked the officer about his team affiliation, learning he was a Vikings fan. Russini proceeded to show the officer what appeared to be text exchanges with Minnesota's head coach, Kevin O'Connell.
Upon returning to Russini's vehicle after checking her documentation, the officer stated, "I'm gonna cut you a break on the cellphone. I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait 'til you get home, OK?"
This incident follows a previous occasion in February where Russini stated she was pulled over for texting while driving with her two young sons in the car. On a podcast, she claimed she managed to avoid a ticket by having the head coach of the officer's favorite team speak with the officer on FaceTime. She admitted to being "desperate" at the time, stating, "I don’t want to get a ticket. My husband is going to kill me." She also acknowledged, "I’m texting and driving. I shouldn’t be doing that I know that… I [called] a coach to get out of a ticket. Like what a nasty play but it worked."
Russini stepped down from her role at The Athletic earlier this year, following accusations of an affair with NFL coach Mike Vrabel. An investigation published in June detailed the alleged relationship and included comments from Russini that she intended to keep private. It also emerged that her employer was reportedly unhappy with her for discussing the incident of using a relationship to get out of a driving ticket on a podcast, a move she had not sought or received permission to do.
Russini was one of The Athletic's highest-paid journalists before her departure. Her exit from the company occurred shortly after intimate pictures of her and Vrabel, both married with children, emerged in early April.