When inappropriate photos of Dianna Russini and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced a few months ago, the fallout was swift. But a new report reveals just how lucrative her position was before everything unraveled.
According to The New York Times, a former manager with direct knowledge of Russini's contract negotiations disclosed that the NFL insider was pulling in a very high six-figure salary as the face of The Athletic's NFL coverage. Sources say she was close to earning $800,000 per year — making her one of the highest-paid journalists in the newspaper's history.
Russini had previously turned down a raise at ESPN to join The Athletic in August 2023, and was reportedly in the middle of extension talks when the Vrabel photos became public. The news has sparked renewed discussion about Vrabel's damage control on the Russini scandal, which many experts have called a total fumble.
It's not entirely shocking given what The Athletic invested in her before the scandal. NBC's Peter King noted at the time that the brand wanted Russini "to be different, to be a subscription magnet, to tell good stories, to be a difference-maker on the NFL beat, and to break some stories."
Russini resigned on April 14, in the middle of an internal investigation, saying she didn't want the story to consume any more attention. ESPN's Ben Strauss reported that The Athletic would not pay out the remainder of her contract. New York Times editors have since vowed to deliver an update on the investigation.
In a letter announcing her resignation, Russini described the situation as a "media frenzy" around what she called an "innocent" interaction with Vrabel. "This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept," she wrote.
She added, "Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career."
In a recent text to the Times, Russini admitted: "This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally."
The scandal has drawn reactions from across the sports world, including Dave Portnoy, who admitted he's 'afraid' to face Vrabel after the drama. Meanwhile, Vrabel has tried to move forward, focusing on the Patriots' 2026 title run.
