The NFL schedule release has become a vehicle for teams’ social media and video departments to show their best work during mid-May, a down time in the league calendar.
The Tennessee Titans returned to the streets of Nashville (mainly Broadway) to find look-alikes of opponents on their schedule for their schedule release video.
This year, a mix of big production and fun trends made for a good year of team schedule release clips.
Here are the top five videos of the NFL schedule release in 2026:
Ranking the best NFL schedule release videos
LA Chargers and Halo
The Chargers always have the slickest, well-produced, easter-egg laden video of the release. This year was no different.
LA did a spoof of the popular Halo video game series, and it really does look like a Halo carbon copy.
As they often do, the Chargers were heavy on the details. Many on social media were interested in how the Chargers’ video would poke at the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini story, and the team didn’t disappoint.
should we REALLY make our schedule release video in halo?
yes yes yesyes
yesyes yes yes yes
yes yes yes yes yes
yes yesyes yes yes
yes yesye yes yes
yes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/eusK9QmNGd— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 14, 2026
Winston Van Gogh announces the New York Giants’ schedule
This one is easy. Jameis Winston is painting.
Overall, this is the best idea of schedule release season.
Winston van Gogh draws up the 2026 Schedule 🎨
Tickets on sale now 🎟️: https://t.co/ysuYTbX1lypic.twitter.com/yIYaJGTZhr
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 14, 2026
Cleveland Browns (and maybe a QB battle hint?)
The Browns‘ Street Fighter spoof was creative, and like the Chargers’ video it has some easter eggs across the way.
The biggest one? Using Shedeur Sanders’ likeness alongside Myles Garrett and other major players’ characters early on.
The Browns’ impending QB1 battle in preseason will feature Sanders along with Deshaun Watson and others. Cleveland’s social media just gave the edge to Sanders, whether it meant to or not.
Introducing Street Fighter: CLE!
🕹️ 2026 Schedule Release pic.twitter.com/aFvc1vMGKx
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 14, 2026
Indianapolis Colts schedule announced by The Simpsons
The Colts, after a 2025 Minecraft spoof (eventually taken down by the team) that included a dolphin wearing a Tyreek Hill jersey being chased by the Coast Guard, hit the target this season.
The Colts and The Simpsons created a mock Simpsons episode opening filled with easter eggs before announcing the team’s schedule via old clips from the show.
And they did give a nod to the Hill reference from last year, as Bart Simpson wrote “We will not include Tyreek Hill in these videos” over and over again on the chalkboard at school.
D’OH! another schedule release video! @TheSimpsonspic.twitter.com/7rc9zyo2pv
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 14, 2026
Detroit Lions and a 30-second video to the point
If you have to watch every team’s schedule release video, some can start to run together.
That’s not to besmirch the fine social media groups across the league, because the videos are very interesting and creative.
But for originality, the Lions have an edge. What does a team with a serious coach put together after a disappointing season in 2025? A 30-second video to the point, with coach Dan Campbell pinning the full schedule to a board.
Strictly business. pic.twitter.com/LEDmouoaj9
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 14, 2026
Message delivered.
Honorable mention: Bill Croskey-Merritt, the Science Guy (Washington), QVChiefs (Kansas City), This is Falcons Football (Atlanta)
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ranking the best NFL team schedule release videos, from The Simpsons to Jameis Winston
