Source: Russini Planning NFL Return After Vrabel Scandal

Dianna Russini is reportedly plotting her NFL return, and she plans to finally tackle the controversy that pushed her off the field. A source tells Page Six that the ex-Athletic reporter, who left her job in April amid an investigation into her undisclosed relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, intends to publicly address the situation when she announces her next role. Russini is said to be weighing multiple offers and could juggle more than one job, though a Week 1 debut is described as not probable.

The Athletic has deemed the 43-year-old's relationship with Vrabel, 51, a "clear violation" of its internal standards, but it found no evidence she boosted him or his teams through her coverage. The AP notes that the NFL didn't investigate Vrabel. Russini, married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt, has insisted she stands by her reporting, per Page Six.

Vrabel, who's also married, says he has "moved on." ESPN reports that he'd wanted to defend Russini's reporting more vigorously when the reports about their relationship first dropped, but he backed down, settling for deciding to simply downplay the photos that had emerged of them. Meanwhile, rumors are floating that a new report involving Russini and Vrabel may drop before the Patriots play the Seahawks on Wednesday night.