Former ESPN Host Recalls DM to Meghan Markle: Let’s Just Say It Was a Fumble
Before Meghan Markle became royalty, she was already rubbing elbows with Hollywood and sports stars—and catching the eye of one ESPN host who decided to take his shot. Ryen Russillo, the host of The Ringer, recently spilled some juicy details about his brief encounter with Markle during a Super Bowl weekend back in 2014.
The scene was a star-studded celebrity flag football game. Markle joined a lineup of A-listers like Nina Dobrev, Michael B. Jordan, and Sports Illustrated models Chrissy Teigen and Hannah Davis, while former NFL players also hit the field. But according to Russillo, Markle wasn’t the center of attention that day.
“We played in a celebrity flag football game together, and it was all of the [Sports Illustrated] swimsuit models. So, nobody was really paying any attention to Markle,” Russillo recalled during the December 5 episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Russillo said he saw an opportunity. “I was like, ‘That’s my lane. She’s probably doubting herself a little bit right now,’” he joked. “She’s never been more obtainable.”
DM Misses the Mark
After their time on the gridiron, Russillo decided to reach out. The sports host crafted what he described as a “soft sell” DM to the future Duchess of Sussex.
“It was really professional,” he insisted. “It was, ‘Hey, I know the new season of Suits is coming out if you ever want to come on the show to promote it.”
But Russillo said he had other motives. “It was like a gauging of interest,” he admitted. “Like, if I got an emoji back, who knows?”
Markle did reply, but her response was anything but promising. According to Russillo, her message read: “Oh, I don’t know anything about sports, but thanks for the offer.”
Russillo summed it up with a laugh: “It was ice cold. It didn’t work out.”
Meghan’s Makes a True Connection
While Russillo’s DM didn’t spark romance, Markle left the event with a new friend: tennis legend Serena Williams. Writing on her blog The Tig in August 2014, Markle reflected on how the two instantly hit it off during the flag football game.
“We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old-fashioned girly stuff,” Markle shared.
No Royal Ending for Russillo
As for Russillo, it seems his Super Bowl weekend encounter with Markle is now just a funny memory. While Markle went on to star in Suits, meet Prince Harry, and become the Duchess of Sussex, Russillo can at least laugh about his failed attempt at sliding into her DMs.
