Overview
- The Ridgewood, New Jersey, traffic stop occurred on January 19, 2026, and the roughly seven-minute bodycam video obtained by The Center Square was widely published this week.
- The footage does not show Russini placing a FaceTime call with any NFL coach, contradicting a story she told on a February podcast about using a coach to vouch for her.
- Instead, the video captures Russini identifying herself as an NFL reporter, name-dropping coaches including Brian Daboll, and showing the officer text messages with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.
- The Ridgewood Police Department said the officer followed department protocol, reviewed her driving history, and exercised professional discretion by issuing a verbal warning rather than a citation.
- The video sharpens credibility and ethics questions tied to Russini’s April resignation and the photos involving Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, and it keeps The Athletic/The New York Times review focused on sourcing, conflicts of interest, and newsroom oversight.