Chargers Poked Fun At Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Situation

Feb 4, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks to the media at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Chargers Poked Fun At Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini Situation

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 15, 2026 10:43 AM ET

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The NFL schedule release came out yesterday and as we all predicted, the Los Angeles Chargers' vaunted social media team knocked it out of the park with a Halo-themed video. Naturally, the fearless team also poked some fun at the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini situation too.

During the segment of their schedule release video showcasing the Patriots, they did a cutaway to a Warthog race, and did a quick cutaway to a sign that said "Next Photo Dump: 1 Mile." It was a pretty clear shot at Vrabel and Russini over the series of TMZ and New York Post photo releases of the two of them that have come in recent weeks.

To accentuate the point, there was also a small scene of a message on the screen that said "NYPost sent you a message."

Lastly, there was a Spotify playlist reference in the end credits, referencing the alleged Vrabel-themed Spotify playlist that Russini made back in 2022.

The Chargers dropping Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini hints in their schedule release pic.twitter.com/eTcXOXFbeV
— Underdog (@Underdog) May 15, 2026

NFL fans rejoiced in the Chargers for having a team with both the creative talent and the fortitude to cover the matter:

"Best creative team in the NFL carrying the entire franchise on their back," one user on X declared.

"LMAO.... subtle but the Chargers took a shot at the Pats and Vrabel in their schedule release video," wrote another.

Of course, Patriots fans were outraged, especially given that they beat the Chargers 16-3 in the playoffs. But trash-talk doesn't care what you did last season.

Recapping the Scandal

The controversy surrounding Vrabel and Russini began last month after photos published by Page Six showed the two together at a resort in Arizona during league meetings. Because Vrabel was the head coach of the Patriots and Russini covered the NFL for The Athletic, the images sparked widespread speculation about a possible inappropriate relationship and raised questions about professional boundaries between reporters and league sources. Both denied wrongdoing and said the photos lacked context.

The story grew larger because it touched on media ethics, conflicts of interest, and how personal relationships can affect public trust in sports reporting. The Athletic reportedly reviewed the matter internally, and Russini later resigned from the outlet amid intense public attention. The NFL said it was not investigating Vrabel under league policy, while Vrabel later acknowledged having difficult conversations with family and team members.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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