Dianna Russini’s abrupt resignation from The Athletic is continuing to spark intense reactions across the sports world, especially after photos surfaced showing her spending time with Mike Vrabel at a luxury Arizona resort. The images, which showed the two, both married, hugging, holding hands, and relaxing poolside, quickly went viral and triggered widespread speculation about the nature of their relationship. Now, fellow NFL reporter Crissy Froyd is weighing in, and she’s not holding back.
Crissy Froyd Slams Dianna Russini After Sudden Exit
After news broke that Russini stepped down from her role as Senior NFL Insider, Crissy Froyd took to social media to share her reaction. “I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Froyd tweeted Tuesday alongside Russini’s resignation letter.
Froyd didn’t stop there, later doubling down on her claims in comments to the Daily Caller. “We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years,” she claimed. “It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way.”
Froyd Escalates Feud With Bombshell Accusations
She continued with even more pointed allegations. “All of us do know what she’s been up to,” she alleged. “From fights with other reporters in Chili’s parking lots about hooking up with married NFL coaches to everything else, it is almost certainly all true. It was the worst kept secret in the NFL reporting world for a while.”
Crissy Froyd also claimed she once declined an opportunity to have Dianna Russini as a mentor. “I can honestly say I have never slept with a player or coach for professional gain. Dianna cannot say the same. That’s where the difference is,” she further alleged.
Viral Photos Fuel Speculation Around Dianna Russini And Mike Vrabel
The backlash comes after Page Six published exclusive photos of Russini with Mike Vrabel at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. In the images, the two, who are both married, were seen hugging, holding hands, and spending time together poolside.
Despite the speculation, both denied any romantic involvement. “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” Russini said.
Vrabel added, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini Breaks Silence On Resignation Amid Growing Controversy
Dianna Russini addressed her departure from The Athletic in a detailed letter to executive editor Steven Ginsberg, making it clear she stands by her work despite the backlash. “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” the letter read.
Dianna Russini also acknowledged that her outlet initially supported her after the photos surfaced. However, she said the situation quickly spiraled beyond control. “In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” she added.
According to Russini, her decision to step down was ultimately about protecting her career and removing herself from what she described as an escalating media storm. “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now, before my current contract expires on June 30,” she concluded. “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.”
Despite their denials, the situation is said to have intensified behind the scenes. Another outlet reported that The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, quietly pulled Dianna Russini from her duties as an internal review got underway.
Dianna Russini And Mike Vrabel Push Back Amid Ongoing Scandal
Despite the mounting backlash and online speculation, both Russini and Vrabel have maintained that their interaction was innocent.
Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, and they share two sons.
Russini, meanwhile, married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020, and the couple shares two children.