NFL journalist tied to relationship scandal returning to work next week

Dianna Russini, the NFL reporter who resigned from The Athletic in April after leaked photos triggered speculation of an affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, is reportedly returning to work next week.

According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, Russini has begun telling people around the league that she will be back on the job starting the week of November 9, 2026.

A source with knowledge of the situation told Florio that Russini is planning to return to sports media.

Page Six followed with a separate report that she is preparing to headline her own digital interview show.

The show has been in development for some time, the source told the gossip page.

"It's going to be on a digital platform," the source said.

"It will be launching next week. It's been in the works for a while and she can't wait to get back to what she loves."

The reported return comes nearly seven months after her departure from The Athletic.

Russini's resignation on April 14, 2026, followed the publication of photographs showing her and Vrabel together at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.

Those images showed the two holding hands and embracing.

Additional photographs later surfaced from a New York City bar in 2020 and a Mississippi casino in 2024.

Another report said the couple rented a boat together in 2021 while Russini was reportedly pregnant with her first child.

Both Russini and Vrabel are married with children.

Neither has admitted to any romantic involvement.

Vrabel acknowledged having "difficult conversations" with his family and said he was seeking therapy.

The Athletic conducted an internal investigation into the relationship.

In September 2026, the publication released findings that determined Russini had violated newsroom standards by failing to disclose the relationship.

The investigation did not establish a clear connection between the relationship and any reporting intended to benefit Vrabel.

Before joining The Athletic in 2023, Russini spent eight years at ESPN, where she became a familiar face across the network's NFL coverage.

Her salary at The Athletic was reported at $800,000 per year.

Russini also made headlines for claiming she got out of a traffic ticket by FaceTiming the officer's favorite coach.

HuffPost reached out to Russini for comment on the reported return but did not receive a response.

The timing of her reported comeback coincides with the NFL trade deadline, which falls in the second week of November 2026.

It remains unclear which digital platform will host her new show.

Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has confirmed that Russini will not be joining his company.

"She will NOT be spreading the news here at Barstool SPORTS," Portnoy said, according to a Barstool blog post.

The blog post added: "And thank GOD that is the case brother."

The post also noted: "I'm sure she'd be welcomed back here with open arms if she wants to run through another round of Barstool Feud."

The trade deadline is one of the busiest periods of the NFL season for reporters and insiders.

Agents and front offices typically engage in heavy negotiations during the final days before the deadline passes.

Insiders with strong league contacts often break news of trades, contract extensions, and roster moves during this window.

Russini built her reputation on breaking such stories during her tenure at ESPN and The Athletic.

Her network of sources included coaches, executives, and players across multiple teams.

Whether those sources will continue to share information with her after the controversy remains an open question.

Credibility is essential for NFL insiders, who depend on trust with their contacts to obtain scoops.

The reported digital show would mark a shift from traditional reporting to a hosting role.

Instead of breaking news, she would interview players and coaches on camera.

This format reduces the reliance on anonymous sources and confidential information.

It also places her in a role similar to that of a talk show host rather than a beat reporter.

No premiere date, guest list, or platform name has been officially announced.

The only confirmed detail is that Russini has told league sources she will return to work next week.

Florio's report on Pro Football Talk was the first to break the news of her planned return.

Page Six followed with additional details about the show format.

Both reports rely on unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation.

Neither Russini nor The Athletic has issued a public statement about her return.

Vrabel has not commented on her reported comeback.

The Patriots head coach is currently in his second season with the team.

His relationship with Russini became public in April when Page Six published the Sedona photos.

At the time, Vrabel said he had "difficult conversations" with his family about the situation.

He also said he was receiving therapy.

Russini resigned from The Athletic on the same day the photos were published.

The Athletic's internal investigation concluded in September.

The investigation found that Russini violated the company's standards by not disclosing her relationship with Vrabel.

The findings did not conclude that any specific reporting was compromised.