The NFL offseason is nearly over, believe it or not, which means we’re just a few short weeks away from getting teams back on an actual field.
And there is nobody — and I mean nobody — more thrilled about that than former Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini. Well, Mike Vrabel’s probably pretty excited to get back to coaching football, too. Just a hunch.
Anyway, this offseason has been all about Vrabel and Russini, and for good reason. The scandal exploded last spring, and the embers are still burning.
Just this week, the New York Times released a novel of a story detailing the Russini fallout, which is newsworthy because Russini was … a New York Times employee. The Athletic is owned by the Times, for those who don’t know.
THE ATHLETIC EXECUTIVE EDITOR ADMITS KEY MISTAKE MADE IN IN HANDLING OF DIANNA RUSSINI CONTROVERSY: REPORT
ESPN reporter Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Sept. 16, 2018. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
So, this was a big deal. We haven’t really heard from anyone at The Times since the scandal erupted a few months ago, beyond the usual company line. Today, the outlet unleashed a 5,000-word story on the fallout, and it included several notable items.
The top thing that has folks talking right now? Russini’s reported salary, which left NFL fans stunned.
“The tabloid drama stunned the Times Company. Ms. Russini was not just any reporter,” the outlet wrote. “The Athletic paid her an annual salary of close to $800,000, according to a former manager who had knowledge of her salary negotiation. This would have made her one of the highest-paid journalists at the Times Company.”
NY TIMES REPORTER LOSES JOB OVER HOT TUB PHOTOS, NFL COACH DOES NOT: SAME OLD DOUBLE-STANDARD STORY
Dianna Russini/Mike Vrabel saga not going away
Lordy. Not a bad gig if you can get it!
Look, I’m not here to dump on someone’s salary. That’s not my wheelhouse. I’m of the mind to make as much as you can. It’s what makes America the greatest country in the world. When a player is negotiating a contract, I’m always for asking for as much as possible.
You have to know your worth. Or, at least, know what your employer thinks you’re worth. That’s just good business.
Dianna Russini attends the “A Lifetime Of Sundays” screening at The Paley Center for Media in New York City on Sept. 18, 2019. (Astrid Stawiarz/WireImage)
As fas as NFL insiders go, this is also small potatoes compared to some of the heavy-hitters out there. Adam Schefter reportedly makes $9 million a year for ESPN. Fellow NFL insider Ian Rapoport just signed a new deal with ESPN after the network absorbed NFL Network. I’d imagine that number is similar.
Before he left the network, Adrian Wojnarowski was reportedly making around $7 million a year.
See? Small potatoes!
So, yes, insiders do make this sort of money. At least that’s what the market has dictated for a few years now. Now, one could certainly argue that ESPN’s budget is a bit bigger than the New York Times or The Athletic, but the point still remains.
Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
As for Russini … the hits just keep coming. The Times is reportedly wrapping up its investigation into the Mike Vrabel situation that cost her a job, and I’d imagine that publishing this long of a story on a random day in June is probably just the first shoe to drop.
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The good news? NFL training camps open in less than a month.
Thank goodness.
