Flag on play.
Chrissy Floyd is defending her relationship history with a college football player and coach after criticizing journalist Dianna Russini for a photo of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel that went viral.
“Someone said, ‘Oh, I see you slept with JT Daniels,’ and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s my ex-partner,'” the fired USA Today sportswriter exclusively told Page Six of his ex-girlfriend, who was part of the coaching staff at the University of West Georgia, just one day after being fired.
“I don’t like having to respond to things like that, but ultimately I thought, if anyone has a claim with evidence that I did exactly what she did, I’d love to see it.”
The 26-year-old went on to argue that “journalists, especially young reporters, who have relationships with players that don’t benefit them professionally” should be looked at differently.
Floyd noted Russini’s authority in the sports journalism industry, adding: “The fact that they’re not getting anything is totally different from women holding top jobs in sports.” “I really don’t know how I’m being treated compared to that.”
Floyd, who graduated from Louisiana State University, told Page Six that he and Daniels, also 26, began a “private” relationship in early December 2023 and dated until September 2025.
“He and I met through football, but we never even had a text message conversation about football, other than a one-time interview request because his name was on a contact sheet,” she said of her relationship with Daniels, who played college football for the USC Trojans, Georgia Bulldogs, West Virginia Mountaineers and Rice University Owls.
“For one thing, JT was in college football. If you want to be hypocritical, you’re going to push me to go find the dates and documentation that I slept with that person for transactional purposes. That I slept with that person for information,” she added in response to the backlash she has received since speaking out against Russini.
“Things are being said about me that are not true and are out of context.”
Floyd also defended his relationship with Daniels in a post shared with X, which read: “My relationship with JT Daniels didn’t start until after he retired from football. Try again.”
Despite being fired from USA Today due to his behavior on social media, Floyd told Page Six that he wants to remain in sports journalism and has “a lot of connections” in the industry for his next role.
“I don’t think sports are over. Frankly, I feel like speaking out has lifted my spirits,” she explained. “I think a lot of people are rooting for me.”
Earlier this week, Floyd responded to an exclusive Page Six photo of Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 50, holding hands and hugging at an Arizona resort in March.
Vrabel responded to the photos in a statement to Page Six, saying, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable and deserves no further response.”
In his statement, Russini added, “The photo does not represent the group of six people who were together during the day. Like most NFL journalists, our reporters interacted with sources away from the stadium and other venues.”
After the images were released, Russini resigned from his position with The Athletic on Tuesday amid an investigation into the photos.
After Russini’s announcement, Floyd wrote to X, “If you don’t turn this in, you should have been told you’ll be fired instead. Don’t hit the door on your way out.” “We know who you really are and what you’ve been doing for years. It has a huge negative impact on women in sports who have been doing things the right way.”
She went on to criticize Mr. Russini, claiming that the journalist and Mr. Vrabel have been “the worst-kept secret in NFL reporting for some time.”
Russini did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment on Floyd’s tweet at the time.
As Page Six reported Thursday, Floyd was fired from his position at USA Today over the tweet.
“First of all, I want to say that I don’t regret anything I said at all and I stand by the fact that it’s all true. I want to thank USA TODAY SMG for the incredible run I’ve had there for about half of my life,” he exclusively said in a statement. “It is with deep emotion that this relationship has come to an end, and the contract has therefore been terminated.”
Floyd added that even if the situation “seems dangerous,” he would “never say anything I don’t support” because he is aware of the “potential” consequences.
“Regardless of what happens to me in the future, I want to say something: Don’t be afraid of potentially becoming a martyr for a good cause,” she continued in part. “I put myself out there in a way that was very uncomfortable for me, but I still thought it was worth it. I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve accomplished and I walk away with my head held high.”
