The Athletic is poised to make its first big NFL hire since the Dianna Russini scandal rocked the newsroom, with CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones in advanced talks to join the outlet — but not as her replacement.
The veteran NFL reporter is expected to receive a title modeled after a senior NFL writer when he joins the New York Times-owned sports magazine, although that has not yet been finalized, sources told The Post.
Jones will continue to cover the league but is not expected to serve as an insider in the mold of his current role at CBS Sports. Front Office Sports reported on Thursday.
The move will not make Jones a direct replacement for Rossini, who resigned from The Athletic in April after being photographed Featured by The Post and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel together at an upscale, adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona.
Jones joined CBS Sports in 2019 after previous stops at Sports Illustrated and The Charlotte Observer.
He has become one of the network’s premier NFL insiders and has been a regular contributor across CBS’ NFL coverage, including digital platforms and “The NFL Today.”
However, in recent seasons, Jones has pivoted away from his full-time role on the network’s studio show while continuing to report for CBS Sports’ website and streaming platforms.
His expected role at The Athletic will focus on in-depth reporting, behind-the-scenes access and feature stories rather than the transactional reporting that was part of Rossini’s job.
Both Rossini and Vrabel He denied any romantic relationshipThey insisted that they were part of a larger group.
The Athletic is continuing to conduct an internal review of Rossini’s work, sources told The Post.
The future of Russini’s former role as an NFL insider has yet to be determined, sources said, adding that The Athletic has not made any decisions on whether or not he will eventually replace her.
The Times declined to comment. The Post requested comment from CBS Sports.