Crissy Froyd has been among the few media figures willing to publicly challenge Dianna Russini since photos of Russini with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced in April. It sparked one of the biggest sports media scandals in recent memory, and Froyd’s outspokenness cost her a freelance position at USA Today.
In a recent appearance on the “Mike Drop” podcast with Mike J. Asti, Froyd revealed the extent of the personal toll on her. She even admitted that she has repeatedly relocated out of concern for her own safety.
Crissy Froyd Details the Personal Toll of Speaking Out Against Dianna Russini
The Vrabel-Russini saga has unfolded in waves since Page Six published photographs on April 7 showing the two at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Additional images later emerged showing them allegedly kissing at a New York City bar in March 2020.
Then, a private boat trip in Putnam County, Tennessee, in June 2021 added another layer, with TMZ reporting that Russini was visibly pregnant at the time.
As more details emerged, Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, and Vrabel stepped away from the Patriots on the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling with his family.
Froyd’s viral response to Russini’s resignation, in which she wrote “we know who you really are,” drew millions of views but also made her a visible target. On the podcast, she revealed how she has handled things since calling out Russini.
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“I’ve actually changed locations quite a few times because you never know who all is involved in this stuff,” Froyd said. “You never know what people are trying to do to you. You never know. Like, [I’ve] been through a lot of Lifetime movie situations in my life that I won’t go into because they just, they don’t even sound real.
“But whenever stuff like this happens, it’s kind of best to keep people guessing as to where your whereabouts are. So, I’ve been doing some of that. I would say that most days I feel okay, but there is a constant, like, subconscious level of anxiety, if that makes sense, because it’s just like getting slapped with PTSD, like, all over again.”
Froyd’s comments reveal what can follow when someone takes a public stance on an issue that much of the sports media industry has opted to avoid entirely.
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Froyd has repeatedly said she expected other reporters to speak up alongside her, but has mostly found herself alone. Major outlets haven’t said much about either Russini or Vrabel, while The Athletic is still in the process of its internal investigation.
Froyd, for her part, appears determined to continue her fight. She recently announced that she will attend law school to study criminal defense, and this move could give her a better understanding of the entire scandal and more insight as she calls out the NFL’s culture behind the scenes.
“I am so excited to announce that in addition to my successful journalism career, I am going to law school for criminal defense,” she wrote on X. “So looking forward to this journey!”
