Dianna Russini has had an eventful week. The NFL insider resigned from The Athletic after photos of her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced online and prompted widespread speculation about their relationship.
Now, she is once again making headlines, this time for saving an elderly man and his dog from a turned-over Jeep.
Dave Portnoy, NFL World Trolls Dianna Russini’s Heroic News Following The Athletic Resignation
The New York Post reported Russini’s role in the rescue after they also broke the news of her encounter with Vrabel at a hotel in Sedona, Arizona.
The Post revealed that Russini was on the scene of a car accident and pulled a 73-year-old man and his dog from a turned-over Jeep.
“She ran out and had a tall man put her on top of the Jeep to open the door, and she and the other guy pulled the driver and his dog out of the Jeep,” a source told the Post, adding that the man and his dog were stuck.
TMZ shared a video showing the scene of the accident and the aftermath.
TMZ shared video of the car accident where Dianna Russini saved a 73-year-old man and his dog from a flipped Jeep: pic.twitter.com/FwrSyffPVT
— 📸 (@archive1517) April 18, 2026
The fact that the wild event occurred in the same week as her resignation from The Athletic naturally attracted attention… and plenty of jokes.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy reacted by writing, “Ok who the hell staged this??? BRAVO!!!”
Ok who the hell staged this??? BRAVO!!! https://t.co/fr3gNUxezQ pic.twitter.com/ibNqUGpwfu
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 17, 2026
Onyx Odds also decided to make fun of the situation, implying that the crash was a way for Russini to win over the public again in the midst of the scandal.
“Dianna Russini trying to save face after getting fired,” the post said.
Dianna Russini trying to save face after getting fired pic.twitter.com/1UOLR8rOtG
— Onyx (@OnyxOdds) April 17, 2026
Gambling analyst and influencer Stephie Smalls also cracked a joke about the situation.
“this is like when a guy hits on me in my replies and then his buddy replies ‘thanks so much for saving my grandma and cat from that burning building,'” she wrote.
Influencer Jorge Alonso and the NFL Memes account mentioned how Russini’s PR team were having an eventful week and earning their money.
“Russini’s PR team working overtime,” one said.
Dianna Russini’s PR team right now https://t.co/dCBTMc6fc4 pic.twitter.com/QguFGFloxv
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) April 17, 2026
Many others made the same joke, especially after ESPN reported on Friday afternoon that one of Russini’s first calls after the Vrabel news broke was to “a crisis communications expert strategizing how to respond to the story.”
Dianna Russini’s PR team right now https://t.co/dCBTMc6fc4 pic.twitter.com/QguFGFloxv
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) April 17, 2026
Finally, Evan Bosanko of Barstool Sports joined in on the fun train and listed other “good deeds” that Russini did this week.
“Hearing reports Dianna Russini also volunteered at a food shelter, and let a friend borrow her Lamborghini in the meantime,” Evan wrote.
Hearing reports Dianna Russini also volunteered at a food shelter, and let a friend borrow her Lamborghini in the meantime https://t.co/EI2kb6Gxtl
— Evan (aka Ebo) (@EBoKnowss) April 17, 2026
Russini, who joined The Athletic in 2023 after a stint at ESPN, is one of the NFL’s most well-known reporters. She recently announced her resignation from The Athletic with a statement that defended her professional track record.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini wrote in her resignation letter. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Russini’s resignation letter drew strong reactions as well, with Portnoy writing that “this explanation really makes zero sense.” As for why The Athletic initially supported Russini only to later reopen its investigation, the company’s executive editor Steven Ginsberg provided some insight in a memo obtained by ESPN.
“When this situation was brought to our attention, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,” Ginsberg wrote. “As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”
The Athletic requested additional information from Russini to prove that she was at the hotel with friends “such as text messages about an airport pickup, screenshots of planning the trip or photos from a hike,” but Russini “never provided sufficient evidence,” ESPN reports.
Vrabel, on the other hand, continues to avoid media exposure; he was absent from the Patriots’ pre-draft press conference this week.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel said in a statement to the Post when the story first broke. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini’s next steps are unknown. The 2026 NFL season is months away, giving her some time to find a new home and figure out where her career goes from here.
