After the controversial scandal involving Mike Vrabel broke, The Athletic's former lead NFL insider Dianna Russini took a break from her job, but she's back.
She launched The Russini Report on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and she addressed her absence over the last seven months. Russini took a lot of time to reflect over the last few months, and she's now hungrier than ever.
Dianna Russini on returning to sports media following a long absence:
"Over the past few months, I have had a lot of time to think about my life and my priorities and the person I want to be moving forward. … Maybe because I wasn't around it so much the last few months, my…
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 11, 2026
“Over the past few months, I have had a lot of time to think about my life and my priorities and the person I want to be moving forward,” she began, later adding, “Maybe because I wasn't around it so much the last few months, my passion for covering this league [the NFL] has never been stronger.”
Dianna Russini's NFL comeback after the Mike Vrabel scandal
Russini launched her show on Nov. 11. In addition to her new show, she will write an accompanying column every Wednesday at 12 pm EST. She is also set to contribute to the Nobody's Safe podcast.
While she is no longer The Athletic's lead NFL insider, Russini is still breaking scoops. Before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 10, she reported that the Minnesota Vikings inquired about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones. However, the asking price was too steep, and the Vikings ultimately traded for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was previously with the team from 2018 to 2023.
Russini and Vrabel's scandal was first reported in April 2026. Photos were published of them embracing and holding hands at a resort in Sedona. They are both married to other people, and a personal relationship could have created a conflict of interest in her reporting.
She left The Athletic shortly after the scandal leaked. Vrabel, meanwhile, is still the head coach of the New England Patriots. She has now made her return to the NFL after waiting several months.