Dianna Russini Distances Herself From BetUS For Super Bowl Access Through iHeart

Dianna Russini’s BetUS deal complicates NFL comeback© X formally Twitter

Dianna Russini wants back inside the NFL media tent, but her new employer could slam the door. The veteran reporter now hosts a show for BetUS, an offshore sportsbook, and the league has not said whether she will get credentials. According to Mark Maske, her workaround is to cite her iHeart ties instead when she applies for Radio Row during Super Bowl week. Whether the NFL buys that approach is still unknown.

Dianna Russini credentials: the BetUS problem

BetUS announced the deal on Nov. 9 and named Russini host of The Russini Report. The weekly show covers matchups, interviews and betting analysis, and she also writes a weekly column. That is a sharp turn from her days at ESPN and The Athletic. She now works for a company that profits from sports wagering.

The sportsbook is based in Costa Rica and licensed in Curaçao. That status does not automatically bar her from credentials, but it adds a layer of doubt. League events like the Super Bowl, the Draft and the Scouting Combine require NFL approval. Teams run their own credential systems too. Maske reported she may need the same iHeart-first strategy there.

Her show launched on Nov. 11 with a rocky start. It was due at noon ET but hit the BetUS site 45 minutes late because of technical trouble. Damon Amendolara and Philly radio host Spike Eskin appeared, and Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells called in near the end. Russini stuck to football, including the trade deadline and Lamar Jackson's contract, and skipped the story of how she left The Athletic.

Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel: why her NFL access is in question

That exit came in April, after photos showed her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort. In her resignation letter she defended her work. "I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published."

In September, The Athletic released its review. It said she should have told editors about the nature of her relationship with Vrabel so they could check for conflicts. It did not rule on whether the bond was romantic. Standards editor Mike Semel put the finding plainly. "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed."

The review also found that most of her stories had nothing to do with Vrabel, and that most pieces mentioning him raised no concerns.

Her iHeart link runs through her appearance on God Bless Football with Jon "Stugotz" Weiner during Super Bowl week earlier this year. That tie may now matter more than any other. If the league and teams accept it, Russini gets a path back. If not, her return to the sidelines could stall right when the biggest week of the season arrives.