NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Police bodycam footage appeared to disprove a claim made by former NFL reporter Dianna Russini earlier this year about what she did to get out of a traffic ticket.
Russini, whose relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel led her to resign from her role with The Athletic in April, said on the “Stugotz and Company” show back in February that she FaceTimed the NFL coach, though she didn’t drop the name, of the officer’s favorite team after being stopped for being on her phone.
It was a story that resurfaced during the New York Times’ deep dive into the Russini-Vrabel controversy, and now police bodycam footage has confirmed that wasn’t the case. She did, however, name a coach.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
ESPN reporter Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Sept. 16, 2018. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
The footage was just over seven minutes long when Russini was pulled over in Ridgewood, New Jersey, for using her phone while driving. Not only did a FaceTime never happen, but there was no call at all during the exchange between Russini and the officer.
What happened, though, was that Russini showed the officer the texts she had had with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and she showed the officer her phone with the texts on it.
DIANNA RUSSINI PATHETICLY PUSHED WITH AN OFFICER TO GET OUT OF A TICKET AND IT MUST HAVE THE NFL NERVOUS
“I’m an NFL reporter and I just broke about Seam McDermott getting fired from the Bills,” Russini told the officer almost immediately, understanding why she was pulled over. “I wanted to stop because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I’m just telling you my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do.”
McDermott was fired on the morning of Jan. 19, the date shown on the bodycam footage, following the Bills’ AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos.
The officer responded that Russini had been on her phone “for quite some time” before pulling her over, although he acknowledged she had work to do.
Russini continued, telling the officer that former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll “wants the job” with the Bills. He was linked to the team given his history with Buffalo before joining the Giants, but they hired internally with Joe Brady promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. Daboll ended up joining Robert Saleh’s staff as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.
Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite photo with Russini holding an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Images)
Russini then asked if the officer was a Giants or Jets fan given the New Jersey ties. When he responded by saying he was a Vikings fan, it prompted Russini to apparently show texts with O’Connell. The conversation, which included Russini saying the Vikings quarterback “sucks” and “KOC’s awesome,” ultimately led to the officer letting her off with a warning.
“I’ll give you a break on the cell phone,” the officer was heard saying. “I understand your job requires you to talk on the phone a lot. Just try to wait until you get home, okay?”
PATRIOTS SAY ‘FULL SUPPORT’ MIKE VRABEL AMID LATEST DIANNA RUSSINI CONTROVERSY
Center Square first reported Russini’s interaction with the officer.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to Russini and the Vikings for comment.
Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons issued a statement about the case.
“On January 19, 2026 at 9:40 a.m., a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving,” the statement read. “After following department protocol during the stop and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued Ms. Russini a verbal warning.
Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California on February 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and long-standing practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, issue warnings to motorists as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”
Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic amid mounting criticism of her relationship with Vrabel after photographs of them hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, went viral. After initially trying to downplay it by saying “reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” Russini eventually released his resignation.
After the original photos, others dating back to 2020 showed Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. The images are exclusively obtained by New York Post was taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told the newspaper. “He was wearing a ring.”
Dianna Russini performs on the red carpet ahead of the NFL Honors at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, California on February 10, 2022. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
While Russini resigned, Vrabel was back with the Patriots after a counseling visit, which fell on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Vrabel said he had difficult conversations with his family while also talking to his players about the situation. The Patriots said before the draft that they “fully support” Vrabel, allowing him to seek the counseling he wanted despite four rounds of the draft still remaining.
