Reporter Fired for What She Said About Dianna Russini Amid Scandal

Dianna Russini announced her resignation from The Athletic this week after photos showed her close relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini wrote in a resignation letter to Steven Ginsberg, the executive editor of The Athletic.

“When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. 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. 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.”

NFL Reporter Crissy Froyd Fired

While Russini is out of the job, one of her detractors is now as well. On Thursday, April 16, USA Today Sports announced it ended its contract with Crissy Froyd following her comments about Russini.

"USA Today Sports has ended its contractor relationship with Crissy Froyd effective immediately. Her recent statements do not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct," a spokesperson for the company said.

Froyd acknowledged the decision from USA Today, but made it clear she'd make the same comments about Russini regardless of her firing.

"I would like to acknowledge the statements put out about me recently and that I am also no longer with USA TODAY SMG," she said. "I regret zero of what I said and stand beside it. If you want to talk, my messages are open. My email is operative, too."

"I feel I've been very transparent and did nothing wrong. I also find it so interesting that a Nancy Armour column was able to be published about Dianna Russini setting women back on USAT, but that my comments as a freelancer on my own social media about her were not fine. Be bold and speak out. Will it make a martyr out of you? Maybe. But some things are worth it and some are not. This was."

What Did Crissy Froyd Say About Dianna Russini?

After Russini posted her resignation to social media, Froyd had a blunt retort for the ousted reporter.

"I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead," she said. "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. It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way."

But that wasn't all.

“All of us do know what she’s been up to,” Froyd said in an interview. “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.”

Froyd added that she was once offered the chance to be mentored by Russini but declined “because I knew what she was about and her track record.”

She eventually commented on her own relationship with former quarterback JT Daniels before claiming that the former ESPN and Athletic journalist had been involved in similar situations that directly impacted her reporting.

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