Newly released police bodycam footage seemingly contradicts an earlier statement made by former NFL reporter Dianna Russini regarding her success in avoiding a traffic ticket.
Russini, who resigned from her position at The Athletic in April amidst scrutiny over her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, had stated on the "Stugotz and Company" show in February that she FaceTimed an NFL coach (whose team was the officer's favorite) after being pulled over for using her phone while driving.
This particular anecdote resurfaced during a comprehensive New York Times investigation into the controversy surrounding Russini and Vrabel. The recent release of police bodycam footage now appears to confirm that the FaceTime call did not occur. However, the footage does show her referencing an NFL coach by name.
The Traffic Stop Unveiled
The bodycam recording, spanning just over seven minutes, captures Russini's vehicle stop in Ridgewood, New Jersey, for operating her phone while driving. Contrary to her prior assertions, no FaceTime call, or any call at all, took place during her interaction with the officer.
Instead, the footage reveals Russini showing the officer text messages exchanged with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, displaying her phone with these texts visible.
"I'm an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills," Russini informed the officer almost immediately, acknowledging the reason for the stop. "I was gonna pull over because I have to make calls. I know you don't care, but I'm just letting you know my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do."
Sean McDermott's firing occurred on the morning of January 19, 2026, the same date indicated on the bodycam footage, following the Bills' AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos.
The officer responded by noting that Russini had been using her phone "for a while" before he initiated the stop, though he did acknowledge the demands of her profession.
Russini continued the conversation, mentioning that former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll "wants the job" with the Bills. Daboll had previous connections to Buffalo before joining the Giants, but the team ultimately promoted Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach. Daboll later joined Robert Saleh's staff as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.
Russini then inquired if the officer supported the Giants or Jets, given the New Jersey location. When he identified himself as a Vikings fan, she proceeded to seemingly show him the texts with O'Connell. This exchange, which included Russini commenting that the Vikings' quarterback "sucks" and "KOC's awesome," ultimately resulted in the officer issuing a verbal warning.
"I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone," the officer stated. "I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait until you get home, OK?"
The Center Square was the first to report on Russini's interaction with the law enforcement officer.
Police Department's Stance
Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons released a statement addressing the incident.
"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 handheld 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 a verbal warning to Ms. Russini."
"The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing."
Controversy Leading to Resignation
Russini's departure from The Athletic was prompted by increasing criticism surrounding her relationship with Vrabel. This followed the widespread circulation of photographs depicting them hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona. Initially, Russini attempted to downplay the situation, stating that "reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues," but she ultimately submitted her resignation.
Beyond the initial viral images, other photographs surfaced, dating back to 2020, showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. These pictures were reportedly taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.
"They were kissing, and they were all over each other," an eyewitness recounted. "He had a ring on."
While Russini resigned from her role, Vrabel returned to the Patriots after attending a counseling session, which coincided with Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Vrabel publicly acknowledged having difficult conversations with his family and also addressed the situation with his players. The Patriots organization stated prior to the draft that they "fully support" Vrabel, allowing him to seek the counseling he requested despite four rounds of the draft still remaining.