The alleged relationship between Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini rocked the entire NFL. For most of the offseason, it was one of the biggest stories in the league, with fans continuing to dive into more details.
As a direct consequence, the veteran reporter had to step down from her role at The Athletic. Recently, Matthew Berry was asked about hiring her in some capacity, and his answers drew reactions from the fans on social media.
Dianna Russini’s Media Future Remains Uncertain
The Vrabel-Russini scandal came to light after pictures of the two holding hands, hugging, and lounging near the pool at a resort in Arizona were published by Page Six. From there, the story spread like wildfire, with fans analyzing the two’s history.
From past interviews, errant comments, reporting, and even Spotify playlists, fans went through every detail with a fine-tooth comb. Her former employer even launched an investigation into her work, which is still ongoing. To ensure that her reporting wasn’t polluted or biased by the alleged affair, The Athletic is conducting a thorough investigation.
But during this time, Russini has maintained almost complete silence, with her future still a mystery.
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Berry, who worked with her at ESPN, though, didn’t give a clear answer about whether he would hire her.
The fantasy football-centric media company he heads, Fantasy Life, could be a tough fit for Russini, given her experience at outlets like ESPN and The Athletic, which are better suited to a reporter.
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“I like Dianna a lot,” Berry confessed. “I will say this: I consider Dianna a friend. And I think she’s really, really talented and good on air.”
However, he wasn’t sure if the team could afford her or if she would be willing to step into a new genre with fantasy coverage.
“So, you know, the question would become, can we afford her? What is she going to do for the company? Because we don’t really break news,” Berry added. “If she was working at Fantasy Life, she would be providing content that would help people win their fantasy leagues, not necessarily what she did at ESPN or The Athletic.”
Berry channeling a little bit of this guy with that screen cap pic.twitter.com/i9nqsbJCui
— Kevin Kaduk | Bears By 7 (@KevinKaduk) August 29, 2026
It seemed clear that Berry didn’t completely rule out Russini coming in to work with him.
However, fans were aghast at the choice, calling him out directly. “So, looks like ‘honor,’ ‘integrity’ are NOT qualifying issues for Matthew Berry?”
so, looks like ”honor”, “integrity” are NOT qualifying issues for Matthew Berry ?
— Jose G Merced 🇵🇷 (@josemerced) August 28, 2026
Some took pointed shots at Russini. As one fan questioned, “What exactly is she talented at, Matthew?”
Another fan joked, “His wife might have a say in that hire.”
His wife might have a say in that hire
— weimer19 (@weimer19) August 29, 2026
But most people were stunned that Berry would make such a confession: “Does he not see the optics of saying this lol?”
It remains to be seen if Berry actually goes through with the hiring. But given the nature of the space and the business, the vocal outcry against that choice might restrain him from hiring Russini.
