Dianna Russini is returning to work after resigning from the Athletic due to her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel earlier this year.
An industry source with knowledge of the deal tells Page Six that Russini will be “headlining her own show, which is very, very exciting for her.”
“It’s going to be on a digital platform. It will be launching next week,” our source tells us. “It’s been in the works for a while and she can’t wait to get back to what she loves.”
The insider — who had no idea what Russini is being paid for her new venture — added, “Everyone in her industry, and at the NFL has been really supportive of her. She’s been missed.”
Another source tells Page Six that the sports journalist plans to interview players and coaches on her new show.
This comes after NBC Sports reported that Russini has been letting people in the NFL know she intends to return to work “next week.”
Before the report, Russini’s former ESPN colleague, Jon “Stugotz” Wiener, publicly offered the sports journalist a job.
“If the Athletic gets rid of her, she’ll be sitting right next to me and Izzy doing the show,” Stugotz said on the April 10 episodeof his Fox Sports radio show, “Stugotz and Company.”
He added, “I support my friends, I don’t bail on my friends, especially at their worst professional time in their history. I don’t do that to them, OK?”
Russini, 43, previously worked at ESPN from 2015 to 2023 before she was hired to be the Senior NFL Insider for the Athletic.
Her career at the Athletic came crashing down after Page Six published bombshell photos on April 7 of Russini and Vrabel, 50, while at the luxe boutique resort Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona on March 28.
A source told Page Six at the time that the two had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant and then spent an hour by the pool and hot tub. They were also seen holding hands and hugging in a private area of one of the hotel’s bungalows at sunset.
In response to the viral pics, Vrabel and Russini insisted they were at the resort with friends while having a “completely innocent interaction.”
Russini resigned from her position at the Athletic on April 14.
In a letter obtained by Page Six, Russini explained that she was resigning to stop the speculation and damage surrounding the situation.
Vrabel, meanwhile, spoke to reporters about the photo scandal for the first time at a pre-NFL draft press conference on April 22, admitting to having “difficult conversations” with his family.
“What I can promise you is my family, this organization, this team, the staff, the coaches and the fans most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward,” he said at the presser at Gillette Stadium. “And that’s what I know and I’m excited to do that.”
Vrabel revealed later on April 22 that he was seeking counselingand would not be with his team at Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
The next day, Page Six published new pictures of Russini and Vrabel kissing at a New York City bar in March 2020.
At the time the photos were snapped, Vrabel was already married to wife Jen, while Russini got married to her now-husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, just six months later. Each has two kids with their respective partner.
The post Ousted NFL reporter Dianna Russini getting back to work — 7 months after quitting over Mike Vrabel scandal appeared first on Page Six.
