Former NFL insider Dianna Russini was back in the spotlight this week after a New York Times article highlighted an incident when she was pulled over by police in January for texting and driving and called an NFL coach to help get her out of a ticket.
Russini — who resigned from The Athletic after her and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s photo scandal broke in April — is currently under review by her former employer to determine if her reporting was influenced by her relationship with Vrabel.
During a February appearance on the “Stugotz and Company” podcast, Russini recalled “making a nasty play” by using her NFL connections to help her get out of a ticket — adding that it was the second time in a month she was pulled over with her kids in the car.
Russini explained that she told the officer she was on her phone because the coach of the Buffalo Bills at the time, Sean McDermott, had been fired, and she was trying to break news.
She said the officer was unfazed by the news because he wasn’t a Bills fan.
“So he names the team [that he is a fan of] and I go, ‘Oh, I love that team. Do you want to talk to the coach? You should talk to the coach,’” Russini said.
She then FaceTimed the coach and claimed that he “played all into it,” telling the officer that “you should let her go, she’s a good citizen.’”
Russini added that she was “desperate” in the moment because “I don’t want to get a ticket. My husband is going to kill me.
“I’m texting and driving. I shouldn’t be doing that I know that … I [called] a coach to get out of a ticket. Like what a nasty play but it worked.”
The Times, which owns The Athletic, reported that Russini’s annual salary was close to $800,000, according to a former manager who had knowledge of her salary negotiation.
Vrabel was not the coach on the FaceTime call with Russini when she was pulled over, according to someone with whom she shared the details of the story.
Russini’s storytelling on the podcast was “unacceptable conduct,” said Danielle Rhoades Ha, a Times Company spokeswoman — adding that Athletic editors had been unaware of it.
Russini reportedly did not seek permission to appear on the podcast, as required by company guidelines.
As part of its review, The Athletic is looking into “Dianna’s involvement” in a January 2025 article, “Inside Mike Vrabel’s Year Off,” according to The Times.
The report by The Times also shared a text from Russini in May to the publication that said she faced “intense scrutiny and personal attacks” over the situation.
“This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally,” Russini wrote while referring to herself as an ex-journalist, according to The Times.
Russini has not spoken publicly since she resigned from The Athletic on April 14.
Page Six broke the story and published photos on April 7 showing Vrabel and Russini holding hands while at a resort in Arizona in March.
Page Six later published more photos of Vrabel and Russini, appearing to show the pair kissing while at a Tribeca Tavern in Manhattan in March 2020.
The images were taken months before Russini married her husband Kevin Goldschmidt. They welcomed a second son in October 2022.
Vrabel and his wife Jen have been married since 1999 and have two sons together.
He addressed the situation with reporters ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and did not specifically mention Russini or the photos.
The coach did say that he wanted to be a better man, and that he had “difficult” and “productive” conversations with those he cares about.
The Patriots have stood by Vrabel and supported him as he skipped Day 3 of the draft to seek “counseling” and focus on himself.
