'Women In Sports Already Didn’t Like Her’: Dianna Russini’s Remark Triggers Industry Backlash

Dianna Russini’s comeback sparks fresh industry backlash© X formally Twitter

Dianna Russini wanted her return to feel like a fresh start. Instead, one sentence from her first interview in seven months has set off a fierce debate. Since leaving The Athletic in April, she has stayed quiet. Now she is back with a weekly NFL show and a message for other women. Not everyone is cheering. A reporter says the remark landed badly, a media star called it spin, and two respected voices are pointing to a very different story.

Dianna Russini comeback: the remark that stirred the industry

Russini told People magazine she hopes her path can help others. "I really hope that I can be someone other women see: you can pick yourself up, get back in there and not be afraid … Because if you just do the work … that's all that's going to matter. And I hope that quiets the noise."

OutKick reporter Bobby Burack says that line went over poorly. "Based on the people I heard from since yesterday, Russini's remark about being an inspiration to other women was what bothered most people in the industry," he said.

Some background helps here. Page Six published photos in April showing Russini and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel holding hands and embracing at an Arizona resort. She resigned a week later, on April 14. The Athletic then reviewed her work, and Mike Semel shared the findings. "Russini's relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic's standards … Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed," the investigation had concluded.

Russini never named Vrabel in the People interview. She did describe how it felt. "The lies became so out of control … This was a runaway train, and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

Women in sports media react to the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel scandal

Burack argued she lacked allies. "Women in sports already didn't like her. That comment didn't help," he wrote. He also claimed that "not a single notable woman in sports media publicly defended Russini during the scandal."

The record says otherwise. Michelle Beadle told Front Office Sports on April 14 that she is "a big fan of Dianna personally and professionally … What's depressing is the woman in this continues to be the target of misogyny and hypocrisy … I support [Dianna] in whatever she does next. She's a damn good talent."

A day later, Jemele Hill told the same outlet: "Dianna is good at her job. She's a good insider. She's somebody who has provided quality NFL coverage for a long time. But, unfortunately, being a woman in this position, it's going to be a lot harder for her to recover than, say, if she were a man."

Megyn Kelly took the opposite side. She called the comeback pitch an "absurd, ridiculous, poisonous spin that takes zero responsibility for what she actually did."

Russini now hosts "The Russini Report," a one-hour NFL show on BetUS every Wednesday. Whether the work quiets the noise, as she hopes, will be decided by viewers.