NFL schedule release: The 7 teams that won the social-media video battle

NFL players prepare for the Super Bowl. NFL social-media teams prepare for schedule release day.

What was once a straight-forward day of revealing when and where teams will be playing each week has turned into a 32-team battle royale to go viral on social media, with production values increasing every year. The competition is fierce.

Wednesday's schedule release day was no different, though some teams tried harder than others. Some teams released television parodies longer than five minutes. Some just let their players have fun. The Cincinnati Bengals pretended like they were too cool for any of it.

Here are this year's standouts:

Los Angeles Chargers ... and the Indianapolis Colts

We'll just get this one out of the way.

The Chargers go full bore with animation and hatred every year. They did anime in 2022 and 2023. They did "The Sims" in 2024. This year, it was "Minecraft," with the expressed-written consent of publisher Microsoft.

We're still trying to dig through all the references in here.

should we REALLY make our schedule release video in minecraft?

yes yes yesyes
yesyes yes yes yes
yes yes yes yes yes
yes yesyes yes yes
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yes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/gxk31Dql5L

- Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 15, 2025

But here's where it gets awkward. The Indianapolis Colts did the exact same thing. Then deleted it, as best as they could. We'll leave you to decide who wore it better.

That's fine, I downloaded the Minecraft schedule release for the Colts . pic.twitter.com/JJdSPkJIKN

- CLew (@droppedballspod) May 15, 2025

It's never great when your schedule release allows the New York Jets to take an easy shot at you.

we had a Minecraft video ready, but decided to change it last minute. our turn now. pic.twitter.com/i7H3uInir2

- New York Jets (@nyjets) May 15, 2025

Atlanta Falcons

At this point, we might as well call schedule releases using animation or video-game tech "Chargers-like."

Whereas the Chargers and Colts both did Minecraft, the Atlanta Falcons did a version of "Mario Kart" we're certainly hoping is legally distinct enough for Nintendo's lawyers' liking.

Welcome to ATL Kart! pic.twitter.com/moDDimA2db

- Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 15, 2025

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers decided to do a 16-bit version of "Oregon Trail."

Saddle up, Faithful. It's go time.@Ticketmaster | #FTTBpic.twitter.com/p8naBCB8uA

- San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 15, 2025

And the Washington Commanders did "Roller Coaster Tycoon."

The gates are open...time to ride @Seatgeek | https://t.co/aSQQqWGJdwpic.twitter.com/WH3tPZYwbn

- Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025

Los Angeles Rams

Brenda Song of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" fame (plus several more television shows, including this year's "Running Point") went viral a couple of months ago with her critiques of the Rams coaching staff. So they brought her in for a local-news style segment to roast their schedule.

For the New Orleans Saints, it was, "There's finally been a ruling over the controversial no-call in the 2018 Rams NFC championship game. By me. It's been seven years, grow up."

BRENDA. KNOWS. BALL.

Schedule Update '25 with Brenda Song pic.twitter.com/1M4uUDf0dp

- Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 15, 2025

As if to prove Song's point, the Saints did a play on the anger translator from "Key & Peele" and had their guy yell, "The ball was 10 yards away before they even tackled the guy. It was blatant!"

Buffalo Bills

There's always a topical one on schedule release day, and the Bills came through with one of the funniest videos of the competition. We're not going to spoil what happens, just watch.

Our 2025 schedule powered by AI.@AllenIverson | @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/ohmuEVsJWm

- Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 15, 2025

Kansas City Chiefs

Who doesn't like "Cash Cab"? Or guessing that "Abbott Elementary" is set in Miami?

Buckle up.

The Chiefs Cab has arrived with our 2025 schedule pic.twitter.com/gkHxczPmoa

- Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 15, 2025

As for other television parodies, the Baltimore Ravens win the highest-effort award for a seven-minute "Severance" parody that seemed to feature half the organization. You can decide if it was time well spent.

The schedule is mysterious and important.@SeatGeek | @AppleTVpic.twitter.com/TqjgdrNxEd

- Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 15, 2025

The Las Vegas Raiders did their own seven-minute television parody with a "This is SportsCenter" mockumentary. With Tom Brady now owning part of the team, whoever was in charge of this got in some grade-A sycophancy by nodding to the New England Patriots with a literal goat.

This is Schedule Release.

Tune in to NFL Schedule Release 2025 on NFL+

- Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 15, 2025

New England Patriots

When you have an honor-roll aerospace engineering major on your roster, like the New England Patriots do with backup QB Josh Dobbs, you use him.

In this case, you have him oversee a middle-school science class-style egg drop (like schedule drop, get it?).

2025 schedule just DROPPED pic.twitter.com/8EG9UEQ6M0

- New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 15, 2025

Minnesota Vikings

We have no words. Whereas every other team spent time, energy and money on their videos, the Minnesota Vikings tattooed their fans to reveal their schedule.

Scars fade.

Our 2025 schedule is permanent.#Skolpic.twitter.com/JebmBYp7mq

- Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 15, 2025

God help everyone involved in making this.