Dianna Russini Resigns, How Much Salary She Earned From The Athletic Amid Mike Vrabel Affair Buzz?

Dianna Russini's salary as an NFL insider at The Athletic surfaced amid her resignation due to affair rumours with Mike Vrabel.

NFL reporter, Dianna Russini was under intense online scrutiny following Page Six's release of seven exclusive photos of her and New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel, on April 7, 2026. The images showed them being affectionate at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. The pictures were taken on March 28, 2026, and after they got publicised, both Dianna and Mike refuted affair rumours and maintained that they were hanging out with a bunch of other people. However, the controversy kept escalating. Amid the backlash, Dianna stepped down from her role as The Athletic's senior NFL insider.

How much did Dianna Russini earn as an NFL reporter for The Athletic before resigning?

Dianna Russini's resignation from her position as NFL reporter at The Athletic on April 14, 2026 has been generating immense buzz online. Her departure followed an internal investigation by the New York Times-owned outlet after PDA-filled photos with Mark Vrabel surfaced. According to the terms of her job, a reporter is not supposed to engage with her subject on a personal level to the extent that it creates a conflict of interest. Before the investigation results could be publicised, Dianna quit her job; however, online chatter suggests a forced resignation.

Regarding how much The Athletic paid Dianna Russini for her NFL-related news coverage, Daily Hunt reported that in 2026 her annual salary was estimated at USD 1.5 million to USD 2 million. She was paid the whopping sum for her multi-platform roles across writing, podcasting, and video content. Her salary reportedly increased significantly in August 2023, when she moved from ESPN to The Athletic. The amount kept increasing each year, due to her increased efficiency at work. Notably, Dainna's salary made up almost half of her overall net valuation. The same report stated her net worth was USD 5 million. The amount might get lower now that she has resigned.

Dianna Russini's letter of resignation

Russini stated she chose to resign from her role as an NFL insider for The Athletic before her contract's expiration on June 30, 2026, to avoid "lending further oxygen" to the negative media narrative against her. She described the reporting as "unmoored from the facts." The letter noted the "damage" caused by the public attention surrounding her affair buzz with Mike Vrabel. Additionally, Dianna said that she has covered the NFL with "professionalism and dedication" for over 15 years and that she stands by every story she has published.

All about Dianna Russini's affair buzz with Mike Vrabel, which led to her resignation

Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel made headlines after Page Six published exclusive photos of them on April 7, 2026. The photos depicted the two interacting closely at the Ambiente luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona. The images, reportedly taken during the weekend of March 28, 2026, show the pair holding hands and hugging on a private rooftop bungalow during the evening. The report further described the venue as having glass walls offering panoramic views of the state's famed Red Rock formations. They were also seen lounging side by side in a hot tub and by a pool.

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Photo Credit: Page Six

On the same day, Dianna and Mike were reportedly seen having breakfast together at the hotel's patio restaurant at approximately 10:30 a.m. According to the report, the duo spent the entire day together, engaging in date-like activities. The news is gaining particular traction because both are parents, married to different people, and have certain responsibilities as public figures. Both of them have strongly denied the affair claims. Mike described the cheating allegations as "laughable" and stated that the photos show a "completely innocent interaction" that does not deserve any explanation. Dianna clarified that the images did not include the group of six people they were with throughout the day.

Photo Credit: Page Six

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Also Read: Dianna Russini Said Husband, Kevin 'Lost Attraction' To Her, Fans Livid Amid Mike Vrabel Affair Buzz