Fired NFL Reporter Crissy Froyd Under Fire for Past Relationship with Coach After Viral Dianna Russini Criticism

Natasha DyeFri, April 17, 2026 at 8:38 PM UTC

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Crissy Froyd; JT Daniels; Dianna RussiniCredit: Crissy Froyd/Instagram; Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty -

Fired NFL reporter Crissy Froyd's past relationship with college quarterback JT Daniels has come into question after she celebrated Dianna Russini's resignation from The Athletic

Froyd said she and Daniels had a "strong relationship" but claims on X it began once he was "out of football"

USA Today ended Froyd's contract due to her critiques of Russini on social media

NFL reporter Crissy Froyd is speaking out about her past romantic relationship with West Georgia football coach and former USC quarterback JT Daniels, amid her criticism of Dianna Russini's reporting.

Froyd — who was fired from her contract with USA Today after publicly celebrating Russini's resignation from The Athletic amid a photo scandal with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel — defended her former relationship with Daniels after social media users accused her of being hypocritical for dating a coach while reporting on football.

Froyd, 26, claimed her "strong relationship" with Daniels, also 26, began after the former Trojans quarterback "was out of football."

Dianna Russini; Crissy FroydCredit: Amy Sussman/Getty; Crissy Froyd/Instagram

"JT Daniels and I’s relationship didn’t start until after he was retired from football. Try again," Froyd replied on X to one user who brought up their past romance.

To another X user, Froyd wrote: "Once again, I became involved with JT after he was done with football. I’m only responding to this because I have previously spoken out against him."

Froyd also made a claim that Daniels was "abusive" despite her loving him "with everything I had" in another post. "I wish him the best if he resets his behavior," she added.

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USA Today ended their relationship with Froyd on April 16 in a statement that read, “USA TODAY Sports has ended its contractor relationship with Crissy Froyd effective immediately. Her recent statements do not reflect our commitment to professionalism or uphold our principles of ethical conduct."

After the announcement from the outlet, Froyd took to social media to defend her statements. "I regret zero of what I said and stand beside it. If you want to talk, my messages are open. My email is operative, too. I feel I've been very transparent and did nothing wrong."

Froyd had slammed Russini on X over the photos of her and Vrabel hugging and holding hands at a luxury Arizona resort — originally published by Page Six on April 7 — and again after Russini announced she was leaving The Athletic.

"I’m sure you were told to submit this or that you’d get fired instead," Froyd tweeted on Tuesday, alongside Russini’s resignation letter. "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out," she added.

"We know who you really are and what you’ve been up to for years," Froyd alleged on X. "It does so much detriment to women in sports who have done things the right way."

Russini and Vrabel, who are both married to other partners, denied any wrongdoing when the photos were released, and said the images were being misinterpreted.

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Source: “AOL Sports”