With the NFL in the midst of one of its slowest news cycles of the year, due to the conclusion of free agency and the draft, much of the conversation has centered on the scandal involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.
However, the NFL schedule release is tonight, and with the schedule out, there will be news to take center stage away from the alleged affair.
NFL Allowing Teams to Use Their Own Judgment on Schedule Release Content
Each year, when the NFL schedule is announced, the big primetime games are often announced beforehand, as was the case in 2026. Once the full NFL schedule is released at 8 p.m ET, each team’s social media team typically releases a video to announce its schedule for the upcoming season and hype up the fans.
While some teams take a straightforward approach, many tend to try to make these videos humorous, while tying in pop culture or things about their opposing teams, to engage the fans and garner additional views.
With the drama surrounding Vrabel and Russini, many are skeptical that teams will avoid mentioning this in their schedule release videos.
“Mhm sure, we’ll know if that’s true once we see the videos,” one fan said on ‘X.’
Mhm sure, we’ll know if that’s true once we see the videos https://t.co/1Q1RQ2CocG
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) May 14, 2026
Sleeper Broncos added, “Social media teams today are going to try and hit a home run on this in their videos.”
One team known for making its videos comical while poking fun at opponents is the Los Angeles Chargers, and the league’s announcement sent social media into a frenzy over what the Chargers might do.
“Lol, Chargers got the green light,” said DMac Wake on ‘X’ in response to the news.
lol chargers got the green light https://t.co/FmAyCN4VcB
— DMac Wake (@DMacWake316) May 14, 2026
With the league allowing teams to make their own judgment, the chances of a team including references or jokes about the alleged affair in their schedule release posts are much higher.
“Oh, I know the Chargers admin will be cuttin up this evening,” said O.J. Spivey ‘X.’
Oh, I know the Chargers admin will be cuttin up this evening. 💀😂 https://t.co/uVKxUumgaN
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) May 14, 2026
The Chargers are confirmed to play the Patriots at home in 2026. The week that the game will take place has not yet been announced, but many are anticipating how the team will tease their matchup with New England.
The Chargers social media team 👇⚡️ https://t.co/ybCrDvi0Wm pic.twitter.com/5S08hqNXSb
— David Droegemeier (@DrotalkSD) May 14, 2026
The Chargers and Patriots matchup figures to be highly anticipated, with both teams making the postseason in 2025 and the premier quarterback matchup between Justin Herbert and Drake Maye.
Maye and Herbert ranked No. 2 and No. 12, respectively, in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric (QBi) in 2025, while both were selected to the Pro Bowl. The Patriots’ signal-caller led the league in completion percentage (72%), while throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Meanwhile, Herbert completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while dealing with a litany of injuries in front of him on the offensive line.
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Meanwhile, Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has led the charge in the defense of Vrabel. “Let me say this loud and clear. I will be monitoring all schedule releases, and anybody who makes a joke about this disgusting controversy will be put on my list and face potential legal action,” Portnoy said on X as he is a proud Patriots fan. “You’ve been warned.”
As NFL fans anxiously await the release of their favorite teams’ schedules at 8 p.m. ET, many will also be keeping an eye out for the schedule releases of teams that play the Patriots.
The Chargers’ social media team is one many are keeping an eye on, which could lead to a large number of views when the schedule drops, whether or not they include a joke poking fun at the scandal.
