Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho couldn’t help but shout out Aaron Rodgers for calling out ESPN’s silence on the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal. The former ESPN reporter resigned from The Athletic after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the New England Patriots’ head coach emerged.
Emmanuel Acho Slams ESPN for Ignoring Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel Controversy
Discussing on his “Speakeasy” podcast, Acho argued that the issue is beyond celebrity gossip. He pointed out that Russini held voting privileges for major NFL awards, including MVP and Coach of the Year.
“Everybody was getting their jokes off. What nobody discussed is, given that she votes on MVP and head coach, you can’t afford to have that polluted,” Acho said.
He pointed to the financial impact that voting for awards can have on players and coaches. Bonuses and contract escalators are often tied to honors such as MVP or Coach of the Year.
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“So, in the event you are making votes because of a relationship that might be inappropriate, and you get caught for doing it, that should be talked about,” Acho continued. “ESPN didn’t report on it. SportsCenter didn’t report on it. Three Letter Network didn’t report on it.”
What happened yesterday? I woke up this morning and everyone is suddenly talking like Tony Farmer. Is it a full moon or something?
Acho bringing up Josh Allen’s MVP incentive?
Rodgers bringing up Russini tampering concerns and the Rex Ryan Paradox?
Several people (finally)… pic.twitter.com/cbcMtmZNhB
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) August 4, 2026
Rodgers raised the issue during Monday’s appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He ripped apart both Dr. Anthony Fauci and ESPN before bringing up Russini’s controversy.
“Look at what the network’s doing. You have literally an individual that maybe used to work at ESPN, that covers our league at the highest level, and there’s a major scandal,” Rodgers said. “And it’s just like nobody can [expletive] talk about it? Like, what are we doing here?”
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He also questioned whether someone serving as an MVP and Coach of the Year voter should remain in that role if allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a head coach could affect perceptions of impartiality.
Rodgers’ latest comments did not come out of nowhere. The four-time NFL MVP has publicly criticized Russini’s reporting dating back to his final season with the New York Jets. In 2024, The Athletic reported that Rodgers wanted to continue playing beyond that season but not with the Jets.
Rodgers dismissed that report on “The Pat McAfee Show” at the time, too. “There is not a lot of journalistic integrity anymore, I don’t think,” Rodgers said.
He later added that much of what had been written about him was “limited in its truth” and questioned why some reports appeared to target people’s reputations.
Russini ultimately stepped away from The Athletic after photographs showing her and Vrabel together at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, went viral. Additional images later surfaced, allegedly showing the pair kissing at a New York City bar in 2020.
