The media return of longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini has drawn the attention of football fans.
Russini, months after her career was put on pause during rumors of an alleged romantic relationship with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel,recently announced she would be partnering with BetUS Casino & Sportsbook as a contributor.
Wednesday marked the premiere of her new show, “The Russini Report” — but it faced a delayed start due to the BetUS site crashing.
Here’s why the first episode of Russini’s new sports show crashed on Wednesday.
MORE:Dianna Russini’s media comeback timeline
Dianna Russini’s new sports show crashes due to ‘record-breaking audience’
Russini announced on Monday that she would be working as a contributor to BetUS moving forward, premiering a new show, “The Russini Report,” on Wednesday. The show marked her return to NFL coverage after resigning from The Athletic in April during the publication’s investigation into her alleged relationship with Vrabel, with Russini maintaining she did nothing wrong.
“Football has always been my favorite sport to cover, and I’ve really missed being in the middle of the action, breaking stories and connecting fans to what’s happening across the league,” Russini said about her new show in a statement. “I’m excited to get back to reporting on the NFL and bring that passion to BetUS. “I want to give fans more than just the headlines, sharing insider perspectives, uncovering the stories behind the biggest moments, and helping audiences better understand the teams, players, and matchups that shape each week.”
However, when Russini’s first show was supposed to begin on Wednesday, it faced a delay, showing a “Sorry, we’ll be back soon” message on the BetUS website.
It took around 30 minutes after the original 12 p.m. ET start time for the show to premiere.
BetUS released a social media post that said the delay was caused by “a record-breaking audience,” with promises to allow for “more seats” moving forward.
Eventually, the show — which was pre-recorded — was able to play, and it can be watched on BetUS’s site.
Early in the show, Russini did not specifically speak about the controversy, but acknowledged her absence from NFL reporting in recent months.
“To the people who picked up the phone and checked in, and offered both encouragement and honest advice, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Russini said. “My passion for covering this league has never been stronger. I’m so grateful for this chance to do it again.”
