For the past month, the NFL world has been collectively focused on one of the biggest scandals in recent history. The Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal has transcended sports and become a massive controversy, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down since new information and photos continue to surface.
While Vrabel has addressed the media twice, Russini has remained silent about the entire situation since her initial comment downplaying the photos. However, a fellow media personality who’s close with Russini recently spoke to her and revealed some details of their phone call.
Dianna Russini’s Friend Reveals Conversation With the Reporter Amid Mike Vrabel Controversy
Since the pictures from Arizona first went public, the story has spread like wildfire. From resurfaced interview moments and suspicious old posts on X, to tampering allegations and even an alleged Spotify playlist, the saga has featured plenty of twists and turns.
Russini resigned from The Athletic, while Vrabel stepped away from the New England Patriots on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to enter counseling, and he has admitted to having some “difficult conversations” in the aftermath of the photos leaking.
During the latest episode of “Stugotz and Company,” veteran radio host Stugotz revealed some details from a recent conversation with Russini, his close friend and longtime collaborator.
“I called her. She answered the phone. And I said, ‘I’m jealous.’ And she said, ‘What of the attention?’ And I said, ‘Well, now I’m jealous of two things.’ I didn’t think about the attention,” Stugotz said. “I told her I was jealous that she got to spend that much quality time with Vrabel.”
“She’s been compromised. She knows the optics are bad on this, trust me, OK? I know the optics are bad on this,” Stugotz added. “I was surprised when I saw the pictures, and this is coming from someone who knows she’s had a close relationship — I didn’t know it was this kind of close — but has a close relationship with Mike Vrabel and has been friendly with him for years. And that might be all that it is. I have no idea. Again, she hasn’t told me.”
He noted that Dianna hasn’t seemed like herself during their phone calls.
“I am telling you when I talked to Dianna on the phone, it’s not the same Dianna,” he said. “If that makes people feel better or feel worse, I don’t really give a sh*t. I’m just telling you that zest, that kind of bounce in her step, that pep in her step, when I talk to her, I don’t hear it nearly as much as I used to, obviously. That should go without saying. To suggest that Dianna isn’t feeling this and her family isn’t impacted by this is laugh-out-loud funny. They’re impacted.”
During the same segment, Stugotz noted that he has a standing offer out to Russini if she wants to join the show as she weighs her career options.
“I am not apologizing. I am not a mouthpiece for Dianna Russini. I am simply saying, it’s her story to tell, it’s not my story, and I am simply going to support my friend,” he said. “If Dianna Russini decides one day, three months from now, a year from now, two years from now, that she wants to get back into this game, she has a place right here. … The offer holds forever.”
So far, Russini has kept quiet and her side of the story is largely unknown. This could prove to be the biggest piece of the puzzle, finally bringing all of the details of the scandal to light. It remains to be seen if she will delve into her version of events.
