Dianna Russini Launches New NFL Show, Which Was Delayed by Glitches

Dianna Russini launched her return to NFL coverage on Wednesday with a new digital show sponsored by BetUS, an online betting sportsbook, according to NBC News.

The program, titled “The Russini Report,” missed its scheduled 12 p.m. ET launch window by at least 45 minutes due to technical glitches that caused streams and site links to fail. When the stream finally began, Russini offered a personal note about her time away from the league but did not address her departure from The Athletic or the photos linking her to New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

“You know, over the last few months, I have had a lot of time to think about my life and my priorities and the person I want to be moving forward and being home in New Jersey with my husband,” Russini told NBC News.

“Those conversations helped me find my way back to the work I love and back to myself, right here hosting the show,” Russini said.

The Athletic Resignation

Russini’s return comes seven months after the New York Post published photos of her and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort. “lies became so out of control,” Russini said in her interview with People.com following the publication of those images, after which she resigned from her position as a national reporter and columnist at The Athletic.

An internal investigation conducted by The Athletic concluded that while there was no clear indication of bias in her reporting, her relationship with Vrabel created a clear conflict of interest that was not disclosed to editors, according to NBC News. The report said that the appearance of a relationship undermined audience confidence in her impartiality.

In the wake of the initial publication, Vrabel missed the third day of the NFL draft in April to attend family counseling, as reported by NBC News.

Broadcast Debut Content

Despite heavy anticipation regarding how she would address her seven-month absence from the media, the debut episode of “The Russini Report” bypassed the controversy entirely. The show opened with a segment discussing the future of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson before bringing on former NFL coach Bill Parcells as a guest.

Barstool Sports said that the sponsor, BetUS, operates as an offshore sportsbook that remains illegal in several states. Outlets pointed out that promotional interviews given ahead of the launch, including a feature on People.com, lacked detailed questions regarding the circumstances of her exit from mainstream sports journalism.

Questions About Dianna Russini's Departure and New Show

When did Dianna Russini leave The Athletic?

Russini resigned from The Athletic in September following an internal investigation into her coverage and her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

What platform hosts her new show?

“The Russini Report” streams on platforms tied to BetUS, an online betting sportsbook.