NFL Writer Suggests Long-Standing Relationship Between Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel

The controversy surrounding Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini has been a focal point in NFL news for the past two months, fueled by a series of leaked images and Russini's resignation from The Athletic. Recently, NFL journalist Crissy Froyd, who was dismissed from USA Today for discussing the situation, shared her insights on the alleged affair during an appearance on "The Howard Eskin Show."

The scandal ignited on April 7 when Page Six released photographs of Vrabel and Russini enjoying an intimate time together at the Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona, where they were seen holding hands and hugging. Following this, Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic on April 14 amid an internal investigation. Further revelations included images of the pair kissing at a New York City bar in March 2020 and a video of them on a private boat trip in Tennessee in 2021 when Russini was expecting her first child.

During the show, Froyd was questioned about how long the relationship might have been known, to which she replied, “At least 10 years. I would assume… for what I know between her and him and certainly for what I know about her, at least 10 years.” She expressed her concerns about the apparent knowledge of the affair within the industry, stating, “The biggest thing to me was the way that everyone knew and no one did anything about it.”

Although Froyd did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate her claims regarding the timeline of the relationship, she criticized Russini's behavior on her now-deleted X account, suggesting that it seemed like “covert bragging” and described it as “disgusting.”

Froyd has consistently asserted that her termination from USA Today was a consequence of her willingness to speak out about matters that many in the industry were aware of but chose to remain silent about. In a recent piece for the Daily Mail, she recounted that several female reporters confided in her about their own experiences with NFL personnel, implying that such stories are often kept private due to the sensitive nature of the confessions.

As the NFL offseason progresses, the buzz surrounding Vrabel and Russini has quieted, but with training camp approaching, further developments could emerge as reporters resume their inquiries into the matter.