NFL Reporter Posts Scathing Takedown of Dianna Russini After She Resigns Amid Affair Scandal

NFL reporter Crissy Froyd is weighing in on the affair scandal involving former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel — and she’s not holding back.

While Russini and Vrabel, who are both married to other people, have denied any wrongdoing and downplayed speculation about a potential secret relationship, Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic, a sports publication owned by The New York Times, on Tuesday, April 14.

The controversy began after Page Six published photos of Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona hotel. Photos showed the two at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona on Saturday, March 28, lounging side-by-side in a hot tub, and in one shot, appearing to hold hands.

Vrabel, 50, has been married to his wife Jen since 1999, and they share two sons. Russini, 43, has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt for five years, and they also have two young sons.

After Russini made her letter of resignation public in a post on X, Froyd responded with a post of her own.

“I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead,” Froyd, an employee at USA Today Sports, wrote on X.

“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years,” Froyd’s post continued. “It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way.”

In her resignation letter, Russini said she was “grateful” for The Athletic’s support once the scandal first erupted.

“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she wrote. “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.”

Russini noted that her 15-year career in sports journalism has taken her work to NBC, ESPN and The Athletic.

“I have built a body of work I am proud of. I have broken stories, earned the trust of sources across the league, and been guided by the highest standards of professional conduct,” she added. “That record speaks for itself.”

For his part, Vrabel previously told Page Six, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini also told the outlet: “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.”

Eyewitnesses, however, claimed to Page Six there were no friends in sight when the pair were caught hanging out together.