NFL insider leaves ESPN to join The Athletic

ESPN's recent exodus of top talent continued on Friday, only this time it was not the result of a cost-cutting layoff.

Dianna Russini, one of ESPN's top NFL insiders, is leaving the company to take on a more prominent role with The Athletic according to a report from the New York Post.

The report indicates that ESPN was negotiating with Russini to keep her with the network and offered her a raise. But it was not enough to entice her to stay. 

Her new role with The Athletic will include articles for the website and appearing on various video and podcast platforms. 

ESPN has been going through significant layoffs over the past couple of months, all of which coincided with the addition of Pat McAfee on a massive contract that will pay him $85 million over five years. 

At the end of June around 20 on-air stars were laid off, including Keyshawn Johnson, Todd McShay, Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Steve Young, Jalen Rose and Max Kellerman among others. While it is easy to connect the two events -- McAfee's arrival and the cost-cutting layoffs -- ESPN still creates billions in revenue each year.

Russini's move to The Athletic also comes at a time when the New York Times, The Athletic's parent company, is moving on from its sports writers to more prominently feature The Athletic's reporters and content. 

Russini was with ESPN for eight years and rapidly became one of its top NFL reporters. Following her departure, it is expected that Lindsey Thiry will go from focussing on Los Angeles area teams to a more prominent on-screen NFL role. Jeff Darlington and Kimberley Martin were also mentioned by the Post as potentially seeing increased roles.