NFL reporter Crissy Froyd was fired from *USA Today* after criticizing Dianna Russini over a photo scandal involving Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. Russini resigned from The Athletic shortly before Froyd's dismissal.
Key points
Crissy Froyd lost her contract with *USA Today*
Froyd criticized Dianna Russini over a photo with Mike Vrabel
Dianna Russini; Crissy Froyd; Mike VrabelCredit: Cindy Ord/Getty; Crissy Froyd/Instagram; Thearon W. Henderson/Getty
Dianna Russini; Crissy Froyd; Mike Vrabel
Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty; Crissy Froyd/Instagram; Thearon W. Henderson/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
NFL reporter Crissy Froyd lost her contract with USA Today due to her comments about Dianna Russini
Froyd slammed former Athletic NFL insider Russini after photos showed her holding hands and hugging Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14
NFL reporter Crissy Froyd was fired from her contract with USA Today after publicly celebrating Dianna Russini's resignation from The Athletic in the wake of her photos with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Froyd, a contractor with USA Today, slammed Russini on X after The Athletic reporter announced her resignation on Tuesday, calling her a "detriment to women in sports."
Two days later, USA Today announced they were firing Froyd.
âUSA TODAY Sports has ended its contractor relationship with Crissy Froyd effective immediately. Her recent statements do not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct,â the outlet said in a statement on X on Thursday, April 16.
Q&A
Why was Crissy Froyd fired from *USA Today*?
Crissy Froyd was fired for publicly celebrating Dianna Russini's resignation after a photo scandal involving Mike Vrabel.
What happened between Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel?
Dianna Russini was photographed holding hands and hugging Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, which led to controversy and her resignation from The Athletic.
When did Dianna Russini resign from The Athletic?
Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14.
What were the consequences of the photo scandal for Dianna Russini?
The photo scandal resulted in Dianna Russini's resignation from The Athletic and sparked public criticism from other reporters, including Crissy Froyd.
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Former USA Today reporter Crissy FroydCredit: Crissy Froyd/Instagram
Former USA Today reporter Crissy Froyd
Credit: Crissy Froyd/Instagram
Froyd also shared the news of her firing on X, adding that she stands by her statements on Russini.
"I regret zero of what I said and stand beside it. If you want to talk, my messages are open. My email is operative, too. I feel I've been very transparent and did nothing wrong."
PEOPLE has reached out to Froyd for comment.
Dianna Russini.Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
Dianna Russini.
Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
Froyd had slammed Russini on X over the photos of her and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a luxury Arizona resort â originally published by Page Six on April 7 â and again after Russini announced she was leaving The Athletic.
"Iâm sure you were told to submit this or that youâd get fired instead," Froyd tweeted on Tuesday, alongside Russiniâs resignation letter. "Donât let the door hit you on the way out," she added.
"We know who you really are and what youâve been up to for years," Froyd alleged on X. "It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way."
Russini and Vrabel, who are both married to other partners, denied any wrongdoing when the photos were released, and said they were being misinterpreted.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.Credit: Timothy T Ludwig/Getty
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Credit: Timothy T Ludwig/Getty
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the New York Post on April 7. "This doesnât deserve any further response."
Russini, who formerly worked as an NFL analyst at ESPN, also responded to the published pictures at the time.
"The photos donât represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues," Russini told the outlet.
Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14 after three years as their NFL insider. In her resignation letter, which she shared on X, Russini said she stands by her reporting and opted to "step aside" as The Athletic conducts an investigation into the photos.
