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, and they were also the ones who initially disclosed 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.
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 save face 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.
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” https://t.co/1lymCR4nHh
— smalls (@StephieSmallls) April 17, 2026
Infleuncer 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’s next steps are unknown. The 2026 NFL season won’t start for several more months, giving her some time to find a new home and figure out where her career goes from here.
She’s one of the league’s most well-known reporters, so it will be interesting to see what the next chapter of her career looks like and where she ultimately lands.
Vrabel, on the other hand, continues to avoid more media exposure; he was absent from the Patriots’ pre-draft press conference this week.
