Dianna Russini has been out of a job as an NFL journalist for more than two months. Depending on her spending habits, the reporter might be able to go years without a paycheck.
According to the New York Times via JPA Football in a Wednesday report on X, Russini was making as much as some NFL players. The reporter was earning $800,000 per year from The Athletic and was in discussions to extend her contract.
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NFL fans responded to the report in droves, offering a mix of opinions. Some made jokes.
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“At least she got her rocks off,” one posted.
“Holy bag fumble,” another added.
“If she wasn’t a hoe she would be making 1m+ a year, sh***y people get caught eventually 🤷,” one replied.
While some fans joked, others made predictions and others were stunned by the revelation.
“Public dont really need to be privy to this info. She’s suffered the consequences now let her enjoy exile in peace,” one argued.
“The tell all book is definitely on the way,” another commented.
“$800K to report NFL news and still ended up in the middle of a controversy. the media business is wild,” one replied.
Russini resigned from The Athletic amid an investigation following photos surfacing of the insider with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
How Dianna Russini’s alleged salary compares to NFL minimum salary
Dianna Russini’s salary was impressive to most in the conventional workforce, but how does her salary compare to players on the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and others she has covered in the past?
She made less than the league minimum provided to a new player in 2025. According to Spotrac, the least an NFL rookie could make last season was $840,000, which puts Russini in the same area, but slightly lower.
However, if she has been making $800,000 per year for the last few years, the insider would have made more than the base minimum for every rookie in every year, as it doesn’t matter which team players play for. A rookie on the New England Patriots is entitled to the same minimum pay as a rookie on the Dallas Cowboys. In 2020, NFL rookies made $610,000, and their wages have seen growth every year since then.
The more experience an NFL player has, the higher their minimum salary, so Russini’s salary still trailed most, if not all, of the league. Still, depending on how she spent her salary, the insider might have the choice of walking away permanently, assuming she saved aggressively during her lucrative stint with the company.
Edited by Ian Van Roy