Dianna Russini's Colossal NYT Salary Before Mike Vrabel Scandal and Resignation Revealed

Dianna Russini was reportedly earning more than three-quarters of a million dollars annually at The New York Times before her resignation on April 14 amid the Mike Vrabel scandal.

On April 7, photos surfaced of Russini and Vrabel (both married) at the adults-only Ambiente resort in Sedona, Arizona. The pictures, taken on March 28, showed the two holding hands, hugging and hanging out alone at a swimming pool. Seven days later, Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times.

After Russini's departure, Page Six obtained and released photos of Russini and the New England Patriots' head coach kissing at a New York City bar on March 11, 2020.

In a detailed story about the scandal and Russini's departure, Katherine Rosman and Ken Belson of the The New York Times report that she was making "close to" $800,000 annually:

"The tabloid drama stunned the Times Company. Ms. Russini was not just any reporter. The Athletic paid her an annual salary of close to $800,000, according to a former manager who had knowledge of her salary negotiation. This would have made her one of the highest-paid journalists at the Times Company.

"She had been promoted as a face of the sports publication, which the company bought in 2022 for $550 million as part of an effort to expand the Times's reach to sports fans around the world. At the time the story broke, The Athletic was in discussions with Ms. Russini about renewing her contract, which was set to expire at the end of June."

Russini, 43, was the lead NFL insider at The Athletic and co-hosted the Scoop City podcast with James Palmer and Chase Daniel. The podcast hasn't released an episode since March 5.

Dianna Russini Spent Eight Years at ESPN Before Joining 'The Athletic'

After a two-year stint at NBC Washington, Russini joined ESPN in 2015. Aside from her role as an insider, Russini also appeared on top programs, including SportsCenter, Fantasy Football Now and Sunday NFL Countdown.

Russini joined The Athletic in August 2023, taking over as their lead NFL insider.

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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 1:14 PM.