Russini Not A Fan

She sure is the model of someone you should get information from and run with it.

That post is false. She did not FaceTime KOC. She showed the officer a text thread.

The Dianna Russini traffic stop bodycam emerges, with no FaceTime to any NFL coach

By Mike Florio

Published June 29, 2026 08:42 PM

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

As it turns out, Dianna Russini didn’t FaceTime an NFL head coach for help in getting out of a ticket for texting while driving.

She claimed she did during a February segment with the Stugotz and Company radio show. Her anecdote was mentioned at the outset of last week’s lengthy article in the New York Times, her former employer.

The bodycam video of the Dianna Russini traffic stop has now been posted by Adam Herbets of the Center Square.

The seven minute, 10 second video includes the entire traffic stop. At no point does it include a FaceTime call to any head coach.

After the officer approaches her car, Russini says, “I’m an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills. And that I what I was just sending to send [sic], a tweet. I was gonna pull over, because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I just wanted you to know my reason why.”

The officer says, “Obviously you were on your phone for a while. . . . I understand you’ve got a job.”

Then, Russini says, “You know who I was on the phone with? Brian Daboll. He wants the job.”

Next, she asks the officer if he’s a fan of the Giants or Jets.

“I’m actually — I’m not a fan of either,” the officer says.

“What is your team?” Russini replies.

“I’m a Vikings fan, unfortunately,” he said.

Russini then shows him her phone, and a text exchange with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. But she didn’t FaceTime O’Connell. She simply showed the officer her phone.

She also added, regarding the Vikings, their “quarterback sucks.”

After going to his vehicle, the officer eventually returns and says, “I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone. I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait ‘til you get home, OK?”

And that was that. There was never a FaceTime. So, while it made for an interesting radio story on a radio show, it never happened.

This woman is a piece of work. This is basically her version of "do you know who I am?"

MaroonBells wrote:

This woman is a piece of work. This is basically her version of "do you know who I am?"

Exactly

I am sure that will be comforting to the victims of the accidents she causes while fucking around on her phone while driving, "she needs it for her job".

I am guilty at times, so yes I am a hypocrite, but if/when I get pulled over, I hope I dont have the audacity of trying to justify about the dumbest thing one can do while driving.

JimmyinSD wrote:

I am sure that will be comforting to the victims of the accidents she causes while fucking around on her phone while driving, "she needs it for her job".

I am guilty at times, so yes I am a hypocrite, but if/when I get pulled over, I hope I dont have the audacity of trying to justify about the dumbest thing one can do while driving.

I'd rather be on the highway with a hundred people who've had a couple beers than one person who's staring at their phone.

MaroonBells wrote:

I'd rather be on the highway with a hundred people who've had a couple beers than one person who's staring at their phone.

as somebody who drives way more miles than the average person.... you are not wrong, at all.

JimmyinSD wrote:

as somebody who drives way more miles than the average person.... you are not wrong, at all.

I do a 612 a week just going into work 3 days a week on a hybrid schedule. I’m pretty sure I get caught up in a live action Grand Theft Auto at least once a week.

The worst part is the cops reaction "Oh my God....oh my God..." she set the hook right there.

"Lady, I'm not impressed, put your phone DOWN. License, registration and proof of insurance - Here's your ticket, have a nice day"

There's more to this story.

Non rhetorical question, how is Diane russini qualified to be an NFL analyst?

It used to a be an analyst was a former player, coach, or GM. Someone who had actual life experience to offer commentary.

Now it's a married mother who's a shagging a married father and coach who gives her inside info?

How'd we get here?

The whole thing has slipped and gotten way tooweird in the last 10 years.

Mattyman wrote:

Non rhetorical question, how is Diane russini qualified to be an NFL analyst?
It used to a be an analyst was a former player, coach, or GM. Someone who had actual life experience to offer commentary.
Now it's a married mother who's a shagging a married father and coach who gives her inside info?
How'd we get here?
The whole thing has slipped and gotten way tooweird in the last 10 years.

So she was getting paid whacks of money (I thought I had seen $800k/annually by The Athletic since she was known for her scoops). Now we have a better idea how she was getting those scoops. I can see how she earns the trust of one Head Coach (Vrabel) which gains her access to other Head Coaches (KOC and more, no doubt). Leveraged access.

Florio makes a real good point about being honest (and she is not...there was no FaceTime). Bragging about essentially bribing an enforcement officer is not a good look either.

Pretty big ethics call out on her by Florio. The fallout on this episode is not over.

Mattyman wrote:

Non rhetorical question, how is Diane russini qualified to be an NFL analyst?
It used to a be an analyst was a former player, coach, or GM. Someone who had actual life experience to offer commentary.
Now it's a married mother who's a shagging a married father and coach who gives her inside info?
How'd we get here?
The whole thing has slipped and gotten way tooweird in the last 10 years.

You don't have to be a former player, coach, GM or even male to be a good NFL journalist. But Russini has some serious problems.