Could Dianna Russini’s NFL career get a fresh start? Former ESPN analyst Matthew Berry reveals a potential path forward (Getty Images)
Matthew Berry, who worked with Russini during their ESPN days, said he would consider bringing the veteran NFL reporter into Fantasy Life if the right role and business fit came together. Dianna Russini has yet to announce her next move after leaving The Athletic, but a familiar face has now offered an interesting possibility.
She resigned from The Athletic on April 14, 2026, following an internal investigation that began after photographs of her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel surfaced. Now, with the 2026 NFL season approaching, Berry’s comments give Russini another possible route back into sports media. Russini built her career around NFL reporting, first gaining national attention at ESPN before joining The Athletic in 2023.
Currently, there is no confirmed offer for Russini, and Berry has not said that Fantasy Life is actively negotiating with her.
I like Dianna a lot,” Berry said during the OutKick interview. He said the company does not really break news, meaning Russini would need to move beyond the traditional NFL insider role that helped establish her reputation. “If she was working at Fantasy Life, she would be providing content that would help people win their fantasy leagues, not necessarily what she did at ESPN or The Athletic,” Berry said during the interview.
For Russini, the comments arrive at an important point in her career. “It’s a great question. “I consider Dianna a friend. And I think she’s really, really talented and good on air. Still, Fantasy Life does not follow the same model as ESPN or The Athletic, and Berry made that distinction clear. Her reputation grew through access to coaches, executives and players, making her a familiar name whenever major league news broke. However, his comments show that the door is open, and after a sudden interruption to her NFL media career, Russini may have an unexpected option waiting on the other side.