ESPN Regular Aaron Rodgers Calls Network a ‘Gutless Organization’ for Lack of Coverage on Dianna Russini Scandal

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers trashed ESPN over the network’s perceived lack of coverage on the Dianna Russini scandal.

Rodgers, a regular guest on ESPN via The Pat McAfee Show, called out the network on Thursday’s episode of the podcast Not Just Football with Cam Heyward. During the conversation, he took issue with the way ESPN approached the Russini story compared to its coverage of the recent arrest of the owner of the San Francisco 49ers.

“But I also said you’re a gutless organization,” Rodgers said, “because they haven’t said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues but you won’t talk one second about the Dianna Russini situation? What just happened? Uh, let’s see, the owner of the Niners solicited a prostitute for $140 in Ohio. That literally was the number one topic when you click on ESPN.com, right? They will rotate the eight stories, or whatever they have, but they usually have like the one story that’s featured. That was the featured story. So you bring in how many millions of eyes to that situation? Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don’t know.”

York was arrested in August in a mobile home community for allegedly trying to pay for sex. Police claimed York responded to an undercover ad. He later pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges.

That situation, Rodgers argued, paled in comparison to Russini and her alleged affair with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. Months before the 2026 NFL season began, Page Six published numerous photos showing Russini and Vrabel together at a resort. Another batch of photos even showed the two kissing at a bar in New York.

“There are a lot of insiders out there,” Rodgers said. “Do they all have strong integrity? I don’t know. But the fact that ESPN spent zero time on that story — but Jed Jed York gets popped in San Fran [and] it’s literally on the top of their of their role right now — that’s hypocrisy.”

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