Bodycam Video Contradicts Russini’s FaceTime Claim During Traffic Stop

Bodycam footage from Dianna Russini‘s traffic stop has emerged, and it does not show a FaceTime call with any NFL head coach, contradicting the account she gave publicly on a podcast earlier this year. The video was released by Adam Herbets of The Center Square. It captures the entire stop and shows no moment in which Russini places or receives a FaceTime call from a coach.

The footage adds a new layer to the controversy surrounding Russini, the former The Athletic reporter whose professional standing has been under scrutiny since details of the traffic stop first became public. The New York Times previously labeled her conduct during the stop “unacceptable,” a characterization that fed into a formal standards review at The Athletic ahead of her departure from the outlet in April 2026.

What the Bodycam Footage Actually Shows

The bodycam video covers the stop from start to finish, and a FaceTime call is not included. What the footage does show is Russini explaining to the officer why she had been on her phone: “I’m an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills. And that is what I was just sending, a tweet. I was gonna pull over, because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I just wanted you to know my reason why.”

She also referenced Brian Daboll in conversation with the officer. “You know who I was on the phone with? Brian Daboll. He wants the job.” She then showed the officer her phone and a text exchange with Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. The officer, who noted he was a Vikings fan, ultimately gave Russini a break on the cellphone violation: “I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone. I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait ’til you get home, OK?”

What Russini Said Happened

Russini’s original account was told publicly during a segment on the Stugotz and Company radio show, where she described FaceTiming an NFL head coach during a stop to help get out of the ticket.

The claim was specific enough to be treated as fact by the Times and became a central piece of the ethics conversation around her reporting methods. The bodycam record does not support it. As NBC Sports‘ Mike Florio, who reported on the footage, noted: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

Why the Footage Matters to the Investigation

The bodycam does not answer every question. It confirms that no FaceTime call was made on camera during the stop, but it does not rule out calls that may have occurred before or after the interaction with the officer. What it does establish is a clear gap between the story Russini told publicly and what the footage shows, and that impacts assessments of her credibility as a reporter.

The Athletic‘s standards review was already underway before her April exit, and the identity of the unnamed coach she claimed to have FaceTimed has never been publicly disclosed. The Athletic’s internal investigation has not produced a final report, and it remains unclear whether any formal findings will be released or whether the identity of the coach involved in the controversy will be disclosed.