The Plain Record

Neutral daily news — clear headlines, complete facts.

Business

Reporter Dianna Russini Joins BetUS After Resignation from The Athletic

Dianna Russini joined BetUS Sportsbook for a new NFL betting show following her resignation from The Athletic after an investigation into her relationship with Mike Vrabel.

Published November 10, 2026 at 11:44 AM EST

The short answer

Dianna Russini joined BetUS Sportsbook for a new NFL betting show following her resignation from The Athletic after an investigation into her relationship with Mike Vrabel.

Reporter Dianna Russini Joins BetUS After Resignation from The Athletic

The Facts

Who
NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
What
Dianna Russini joining BetUS Sportsbook as an NFL insider.
When
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Where
San Jose, Costa Rica and New York, New York
Why
Russini resigned from her previous role at The Athletic after failing to disclose a relationship with a coach she covered; she is now moving to an offshore gambling platform.

NFL reporter Dianna Russini announced she is joining BetUS Sportsbook to host a weekly show and write a column beginning Wednesday, Nov. 11. The move follows her resignation from The Athletic in April 2026 after the publication of photographs showing her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

Russini previously served as an NFL insider for ESPN and The Athletic. Her departure from The Athletic occurred after the New York Post published images of Russini and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a resort in Sedona, Arizona. While the pair initially described their relationship as platonic, additional photos surfaced from March 2020 appearing to show them sharing a kiss at a bar in New York. The Athletic launched an investigation into the matter, and Russini resigned before its conclusion.

In September 2026, The Athletic released the findings of its investigation. The outlet stated that Russini should have disclosed the nature of her relationship with Vrabel to allow editors to determine which stories were appropriate for her to cover. Her new program, "The Russini Report," is scheduled to air at noon on the BetUS TV website and X account, featuring guests such as former coach Bill Parcells to discuss NFL betting data and game previews.

BetUS, the platform hosting Russini’s new content, is an offshore sportsbook based in Costa Rica and regulated by the government of Curacao. The company lacks a United States license. This status has led officials in multiple U.S. states to issue cease-and-desist orders against the platform.

The move marks a shift for the reporter from mainstream news organizations to a gambling-focused outlet. For the 43-year-old Russini, the role provides a platform to offer analysis and "data-backed statistics" directly to bettors.

The long-term impact on Russini’s access to the league is currently unknown. The NFL has not yet stated whether it will provide media credentials to Russini for league events in her new capacity. "The Russini Report" is set to premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026.

Timeline of what happened

Key dates and decisions, in the order they occurred.

  1. March 2020

    Photos of Russini and Vrabel at a New York bar taken

  2. April 2026

    Russini resigns from The Athletic following Arizona photo publication

  3. September 2026

    The Athletic concludes internal investigation into undisclosed relationship

  4. November 10, 2026

    Russini announces new role with BetUS Sportsbook

  5. November 11, 2026

    Scheduled premiere of "The Russini Report" at noon

Summaries are written by The Plain Record to state the facts of a story plainly and without political slant. Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the source record before publication. See how we report, or report a correction.

← Back to the front page

Questions readers ask

What happened: Reporter Dianna Russini Joins BetUS After Resignation from The Athletic?

NFL reporter Dianna Russini announced she is joining BetUS Sportsbook to host a weekly show and write a column beginning Wednesday, Nov. 11. The move follows her resignation from The Athletic in April 2026 after the publication of photographs showing her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

Who is involved?

NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

When did this happen?

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Where did this happen?

San Jose, Costa Rica and New York, New York

Why does this matter?

Russini resigned from her previous role at The Athletic after failing to disclose a relationship with a coach she covered; she is now moving to an offshore gambling platform.