Dianna Russini's Podcast Co-Host, Chase Daniel, Breaks Silence On Mike Vrabel Drama

Countless members of the media have commented on NFL insider Dianna Russini's questionable connection with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. Her former podcast co-host, Chase Daniel, has remained silent.

In July 2024, The Athletic launched a podcast called "Scoop City." Daniel and Russini covered every major topic in the NFL for nearly two years. Their last episode was recorded on March 5, which was a little over a month before Page Six released photos of Russini and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a hotel in Arizona.

TMZ added fuel to the fire by sharing a video of Russini and Vrabel enjoying a boat day in June 2021. It turns out she was pregnant with her and her husband's first child at that time.

"The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child. Documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show both signed the company waiver before heading out on a lake … and our source says there was no visible PDA before they departed," TMZ reported. "We're also told Vrabel and Russini appeared cautious about photos being taken, and while she declined to pose at all with the staff … Vrabel agreed to snap one pic, but allegedly asked that no images be publicly posted."

Daniel finally commented on Russini's situation while on Jim Rome's radio show this Thursday afternoon. The former NFL quarterback shared his thoughts on what went down, albeit he tried his best to avoid making any controversial remarks.

"Look, that's something that's just unfortunate in many different ways. And we haven't really chatted about it. We haven't done any of that, so I'm going to leave that there," Daniel said, via Awful Announcing. "That's their business. It has turned into quite the assignment of everything, it's like TMZ is covering it, the Wall Street Journal, all these things are covering it, so I'm sure she'll land on her feet somewhere and that's all I'll really say about that."

What's next for Dianna Russini?

Russini has not said anything since resigning from her role with The Athletic. One of her former ESPN co-workers, Jon "Stugotz" Weiner, suggested that she'll eventually share her side to the story.

"This is her story to share when she feels like sharing it," Weiner said, via Awful Announcing. "It is not me. And it is not my obligation to talk to Dianna Russini privately on the phone and then share it with a radio audience that she doesn't want me to share it with, because it's not my story to tell. It's her story to tell on her timeline."

For now, Russini is reportedly focused on taking care of her family. Nikki Gist, a New Jersey sports reporter, believes Russini could "take half the industry down with her" when she decides to come out of hiding.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM.