NFL open to Vrabel-Russini jokes in team videos for 2026 schedule
TL;DR
The NFL will allow teams to create humorous videos for the 2026 schedule release, including jokes about Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini. The league will not audit these videos, encouraging a light-hearted approach among teams.
Key points
- NFL allows humorous team videos for 2026 schedule release
- Teams can joke about Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini
- League will not audit or intervene in team videos
- Schedule release date is May 14, 2026
Mentioned in this story
NFL open to Vrabel-Russini jokes in team videos for 2026 schedule
The NFL announced Thursday, May 14, its laissez-faire approach to teams' videos in advance of the 2026 schedule to be released the same day.
Therefore, the league won't audit team videos that possibly ridicule the scandal surrounding New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, The Athletic's former top NFL insider, per Front Office Sports.
“This is the day when teams are licensed to poke fun at each other," a source said to Front Office Sports. "The Vrabel story has become such a public matter that teams can take the shot. You may get a call from the Patriots. But the league is not going to get involved.”
Vrabel and Russini have been at the center of one of the league's biggest stories this offseason. Photos of them together at a resort in Sedona surfaced in the New York Post's Page Six gossip section in April. Both parties attended the league's owners' meeting at Arizona's Biltmore Hotel in March, before they allegedly had their rendezvous about two hours away from that location.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
1 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
1 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
2 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
3 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
4 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
5 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
6 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Karson Sharar during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
7 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
8 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
9 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Reggie Virgil during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
10 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
11 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
12 / 12
Arizona Cardinals hold press conference for some more rookies
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
Vrabel and Russini, who are married, but not to each other, both publicly denied any wrongdoing and Vrabel initially downplayed the photos as "laughable." But after an investigation was planned by The Athletic, Russini resigned on April 14. Then additional photos revealed by TMZ showed Vrabel and Russini privately together dating back to 2020.
Vrabel eventually apologized to his team and family during a Patriots press conference on April 24 about his "actions" related to the photos and sought counseling.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL open to Vrabel-Russini jokes in team videos for 2026 schedule
Q&A
What is the NFL's stance on team videos for the 2026 schedule?
The NFL has announced a hands-off approach, allowing teams to create humorous videos without audits.
Who are Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini in relation to the NFL?
Mike Vrabel is the head coach of the New England Patriots, and Dianna Russini is a former top NFL insider for The Athletic.
When will the 2026 NFL schedule be released?
The 2026 NFL schedule is set to be released on May 14, 2026.
Why is the NFL allowing jokes about the Vrabel-Russini situation?
The league recognizes the Vrabel story as a public matter, permitting teams to poke fun at each other during the schedule release.
