49ers Podcaster Raises Serious Questions After Leaked Dianna Russini Bodycam Video Shows Major Inconsistency

Dianna Russini did not call an NFL head coach when she was stopped by an officer.

49ers Podcaster Raises Serious Questions After Leaked Dianna Russini Bodycam Video Shows Major Inconsistency

Dianna Russini (Image via CNN)

Dianna Russini, using her NFL connections to escape receiving a speeding ticket from police, took a wild turn on Monday, and Tony Farmer is all over it. Recently surfaced bodycam footage refutes the claims made by the former Athletic/Times reporter.

In the footage, an officer stops Russini’s vehicle on the side of the road and requests to see her papers. Instead of complying, she quickly searched something on her mobile phone before showing the results to the officer.

The officer replied that he’s a Vikings fan. This is the opposite of what Russini previously admitted doing on a podcast earlier in the year. Russini claimed she phoned the head coach of the officer’s favourite team. The coach even spoke with the officer before letting her leave.

The Times article, published last week, opens by addressing Russini’s encounter with the highway patrol. The Times mention that it started its investigation in May. So, Farmer questions: why didn’t The Times include the bodycam footage as evidence in the article?

Farmer believes that the “[Times] either chose not to or they do have the body cam footage and chose not to include it in the story for some reason… This was the lead of their story.”

The Center Square first uploaded the video of Russini being pulled over by the police.

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Police explained why the officer didn’t ticket Dianna Russini

The demand to release the bodycam footage engulfed social media after the Times published its story. Several outlets, including Farmer, reached out to the police for an answer. Farmer didn’t receive any reply.

49ers Podcaster Raises Serious Questions After Leaked Dianna Russini Bodycam Video Shows Major Inconsistency
Dianna Russini (Image via CNN)

Eventually, the footage made its way onto X. The police finally disclosed the officer’s side of the story in a statement documented by Mike Florio of NBC Sports.

According to Chief Forest Ross Lyons of the Ridgewood, New Jersey, Police Department, an officer stopped Russini’s vehicle on January 19, 2026, at 9:40 am. on Godwin Avenue. Chief Ross stated that the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.

The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.

Chief Ross said via PFT

It all started after the New York Post published compromising photos of Russini with former Tennessee and current New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Russini asked The Athletic to contact Vrabel to release a coordinated statement. The executive editor of The Athletic, Steven Ginsberg, supported his colleague in the initial phase but quickly withdrew it.

The Times article revealed that Ginsberg saw one of Russini’s photos two days before the Post’s article went live. He either declined to see the rest or wasn’t permitted access. When additional photos surfaced, The Athletic had to launch an investigation. Shortly after, Russini re-signed from the company. Russini has stayed away from the public eye.

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