The Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal had cooled off a bit lately after Russini resigned from The Athletic and Vrabel got underway with training camp and preseason activities with the New England Patriots.
However, with new reports of Russini’s potential return to journalism, the topic is hot once again.
After everything that went down, could the longtime reporter really find her way back into the industry? And how do fans feel about that?
NFL Fans Outraged Dianna Russini Could Return to Reporting
A recent report by Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, who said The Athletic cleared Russini of any biased reporting after its internal investigation, sparked rumors of Russini’s return.
“Dianna Russini is ‘absolutely’ planning a comeback to sports media, sources tell Front Office Sports,” McCarthy wrote. “Russini hasn’t decided on her next play. But with the kickoff of the new pro football season only six days away, the former ESPN reporter is expected to make her move sooner rather than later.”
“The lead candidate to hire Russini, I’m hearing, is Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Sports,” McCarthy added. “She’s friends with the company’s two biggest on-air talents: ‘Pardon My Take’ hosts Dan ‘Big Cat’ Katz and PFT Commenter. She appeared frequently on their pod. The Jersey native has the kind of funny, entertaining personality that meshes with Barstool’s irreverent approach.”
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While The Athletic completed its investigation, that hasn’t changed how NFL fans feel about Russini’s actions or how they affected her reporting.
Fans didn’t like the idea of her return, and here’s how they reacted:
“Imagine being an actual female reporter with integrity and having to see this (expletive) lol,” one fan wrote on X.
“She had completely lost credibility like what? This is ridiculous,” a fan added.
She had completely lost credibility like what? This is ridiculous.
— Chuck (@Biggchuck___) September 3, 2026
“Lol breaks integrity by (allegedly) sleeping with someone to get information, but gets to keep her job most likely. Ridiculous, she embarrassed journalism,” another fan wrote.
“Ban her from the league for tampering,” one user on X said.
Ban her from the league for tampering
— Geovani (@GeovaniFer7r) September 3, 2026
Other fans commented on how this rumor affects the integrity of journalism as a whole and took a shot at Barstool.
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“Sports media is cooked, and this is a prime example of why,” one fan wrote.
“Barstool’s newest hire incoming,” another fan added.
Barstool’s newest hire incoming
— Slim Charles (@The_Scorelord) September 3, 2026
Whether The Athletic determined there was any wrongdoing on Russini’s part or not, it is obvious that, based on the photos and videos that have become public, fans across the league have made up their minds on the matter.
Russini has spent more than fifteen years in sports journalism, by her own account, after starting her broadcast career at NBC-affiliated stations.
As for the other half of the scandal, Vrabel has been coaching for more than 15 years after his 14-year playing career. The Patriots’ head coach remains with the team in the same role as before the scandal.
