- May 21, 2026
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The "advanced talks" have advanced all the way to a done deal.
Jonathan Jones announced on Thursday that he has left CBS. The Athletic separately announced that Jones will become a "senior writer" covering the NFL.
Per the item posted by The Athletic, "Jonathan will focus on bringing behind-the-scenes stories to the forefront, breaking news and capturing game moments with deeply reported articles and video analysis."
Jones had worked for CBS since 2019.
The Athletic has not yet filled its "NFL Insider" role following the abrupt resignation of Dianna Russini in April, a week after photos emerged of Russini with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a resort in Arizona. (The Athletic also has not yet concluded its internal investigation regarding Russini's reporting.)
It's possible, if not likely, that The Athletic will not have an "NFL Insider" in the sense that the job has evolved.
Frankly, it would be difficult if not impossible for an "NFL Insider" to do the job competitively while also complying with the high journalistic standards of the New York Times, which apply by extension to The Athletic. Throw in the lingering newsroom tensions regarding the perception that The Athletic is held to a lower bar, and it arguably makes no sense to have an employee in a role that necessitates the kind of relationships that the Times would regard as actual or apparent conflicts of interest.
Jonathan Jones announced on Thursday that he has left CBS. The Athletic separately announced that Jones will become a "senior writer" covering the NFL.
Per the item posted by The Athletic, "Jonathan will focus on bringing behind-the-scenes stories to the forefront, breaking news and capturing game moments with deeply reported articles and video analysis."
Jones had worked for CBS since 2019.
The Athletic has not yet filled its "NFL Insider" role following the abrupt resignation of Dianna Russini in April, a week after photos emerged of Russini with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a resort in Arizona. (The Athletic also has not yet concluded its internal investigation regarding Russini's reporting.)
It's possible, if not likely, that The Athletic will not have an "NFL Insider" in the sense that the job has evolved.
Frankly, it would be difficult if not impossible for an "NFL Insider" to do the job competitively while also complying with the high journalistic standards of the New York Times, which apply by extension to The Athletic. Throw in the lingering newsroom tensions regarding the perception that The Athletic is held to a lower bar, and it arguably makes no sense to have an employee in a role that necessitates the kind of relationships that the Times would regard as actual or apparent conflicts of interest.