The scandal involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini has dominated headlines, with new information and details emerging seemingly every day.
Rival teams have kept quiet about the situation, but that changed today when the Los Angeles Chargers decided to poke fun at the Vrabel-Russini saga in their highly anticipated schedule release video. The Chargers are known for taking jabs at rival teams in their announcement, and they went after the Patriots’ behind-the-scenes drama with a pair of five-word phrases in their schedule release video.
Chargers Take a Shot at Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Scandal in Schedule Release Video
On Thursday, the Chargers’ social media team released their video-game-themed 2026 schedule reveal. While teasing their Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Patriots, there are five words: “Next Photo Dump: 1 Mile.”
A graphic also pops up that says: “NYPost sent you a message.” For those who haven’t been keeping up, the New York Post initially broke the news of the Vrabel-Russini scandal when they published photos of the pair at a resort in Arizona.
The Chargers’ video quickly made the rounds on social media, and there were plenty of reactions from the NFL world.
Jordan Dajani, who covers the NFL for CBS Sports, posted the Chargers’ video on X and wrote, “Here’s what the Chargers social media team did for the Patriots matchup with the Vrabel saga ongoing.”
Here’s what the Chargers social media team did for the Patriots matchup with the Vrabel saga ongoing: pic.twitter.com/aETbcHokjk
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) May 14, 2026
Tyler Schoon, co-host of the “Guilty As Charged Podcast” that covers the Chargers, also shared the video online. Schoon wrote and posted on X, “The Chargers take their shots at the Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini situation.”
The Chargers take their shots at the Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini situation 😂 pic.twitter.com/NMw11AtHEm
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) May 14, 2026
One user wrote on X, “Chargers with the slight Vrabel dig in their schedule release.”
Ari Meirov, who covers the NFL for The 33rd Team, shouted out the Chargers for not avoiding the Vrabel-Russini relationship.
Meirov wrote, “For those wondering, the Chargers didn’t avoid the elephant in the room in their schedule release video when they were up to the Patriots: ‘Next photo dump: 1 mile’ ‘NY Post sent you a message.'”
For those wondering, the #Chargers didn’t avoid the elephant in the room in their schedule release video when they were up to the #Patriots:
“Next photo dump: 1 mile”
“NY Post sent you a message” https://t.co/tIwn8GaufW pic.twitter.com/qn7fOaCZee
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 14, 2026
Albert Breer, senior NFL reporter for The MMBQ, celebrated the Chargers’ schedule release video. Breer wrote in his post on X: “The champions again.”
“What people have been waiting for,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter added on X.
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“This has to be a Vrabel/Russini dig by the Chargers, no? The NY Post were the ones who dropped the story,” UStadium asked.
This has to be a Vrabel/Russini dig by the Chargers no? The NY Post were the ones who dropped the story. https://t.co/1ItadPJfe3 pic.twitter.com/eYkdjK2uxm
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) May 14, 2026
MLFootball’s account on X was quite pointed in its comments: “HOLY SH*T … THE CHARGERS TROLLED MIKE VRABEL AND DIANNA RUSSINI IN THEIR SCHEDULE RELEASE VIDEO. THIS IS SO GOOD.”
Zach Cohen, who is associated with FanDuel, shared his thoughts regarding the video as well. Cohen wrote, “LMAO the Chargers really did it, a photo dump and NY Post reference for the Vrabel/Russini saga.”
Needless to say, the Chargers-Patriots matchup will be must-see TV in Week 12.
