Dianna Russini intends to apply for a press credential for Radio Row at the upcoming Super Bowl in Los Angeles, according to “reporting from Front Office Sports.”
The veteran reporter recently launched a weekly NFL web show hosted on BetUS, an offshore sportsbook.
Her return to sports media follows a high-profile resignation from The Athletic earlier this year, as “detailed by People.”
Because the NFL maintains strict policies regarding gambling, it remains uncertain if the league will approve her request for access.
Russini reportedly plans to leverage her affiliation with iHeartMedia, where she will host a podcast with Jon “Stugotz” Weiner, to secure credentials, the outlets reported.
This strategy is intended to distance her professional applications from the BetUS brand, which has faced significant pushback from team executives.
One NFL executive described the gambling platform as “this b.s. outlet” and stated they would deny any request associated with the company.
Another official noted that while their organization would reject a BetUS-affiliated request, they would consider an application made through iHeart, which they view as a “legitimate outlet.”
Despite the mixed reception, some teams expressed a willingness to grant access, with one executive stating they did not see a reason to deny a request.
The NFL controls credentialing for marquee events like the Super Bowl, while individual teams manage access for regular-season games and facility visits.
Russini, who recently covered trade deadline news on social media, has not publicly commented on her credentialing strategy.
Her publicist also declined to provide a statement regarding the ongoing media access challenges.
The application deadline for media credentials for Super Bowl LXI is set for Dec. 4.
The league requires that all applications be submitted by a sports editor, director, or photo editor to be considered for approval.