Caleb Harris
For NFL social media managers, schedule launch day is like the Super Bowl. During the offseason, teams work to create the most creative videos and ways to reveal the dates and times their franchise will face each opponent. Everything is an event when it comes to the NFL. and the scheduled release is no exception.
Some teams take a simpler approach, others use humor, but they all strive to make their video more interesting than just a listicle.
With 32 teams, there are lots of good videos to choose fromSo we’ve broken down the best, listing Wednesday night’s top 10.
The Chargers kill it every year and definitely had one of the most in-depth videos this offseason. Their reveal is based on the Sims game and was loaded with Easter eggs. From Taylor Swift’s appearance, to a “ChiefsAHolic” reference on trialthe references were wild.
They had Jim and John Harbaugh having a pillow fight for their game against the Ravens, referencing the Falcons’ 28-3 flop Super Bowl led and had a Patriots retirement home with all their former legends. Raiders fans were portrayed as clowns and Sean Payton was returning players and Kirk Cousins was shirtless in a club and the music stopped when Michael Penix Jr.
The Titans could have easily taken over first place, and instead of putting them in second place, there should have been 1A and 1B between them and the Chargers. Last season, their video asked people on the streets of Nashville to name NFL teams based on their logos and the results were hilarious. They took a similar approach this season, bringing back someone from last year’s video and having her ask people to describe the NFL teams the Titans are ready to face.
3. New England Patriots
“Good Will Hunting” is a fan favorite in Boston, so it only made sense to do a scheduled release video themed after the film. It stars Julian Edelman as “Jules Hunting” as he miraculously decodes programming and impresses those at the facility, including Patriots legend Ernie Adams and longtime team researcher. Rob Gronkowski played the role of Ben Affleck, encouraging his friend “Jules Hunting” to stop watching Patriots games at home and work for the team.
They made exceptional references, including “Pink Stripes,” an abbreviation Adams used that went viral in a Patriots documentary when fans tried to decode what it meant. Former coach Bill Belichick was even mentioned.
Rams coach Sean McVay is known for his impressive memory when it comes to NFL. Los Angeles used its special ability to reveal its schedule, giving you fun facts about each team. Unsurprisingly, he completely crushed it.
5. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons used the video game”NFL Street” to publicize their schedule and nailed it. Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts jumped, stiff-armed, and ran over opponents when the order was revealed. Solid references and shades to the teams were sprinkled throughout the video, including a Cowboys fan shouting “Go Lakers”, not-so-subtly calling them fans of the movement.
And of course, they had animated Cousins, wearing a chain and surrounded by fire. The post had nostalgia, great animation, and funny digs at opponents, which is a recipe for a solid reveal video.
Eagles fans are known for being a little wild and intense, so the team took advantage of that and used their fan base to help them reveal the order of their opponents. In the style of a psychological test, fans were asked “what they see” when they look at other teams’ logos. One fan said the Cowboys, who are one of the Eagles’ biggest rivals, left them “nauseated.” Santa Claus, who Eagles fans often get criticized for throwing snowballs at once, even showed up.
7. Dallas Cowboys
Using a viral trend doesn’t always work, but the Cowboys executed it well. They used the FaceTime prank and recorded the reactions of some of their fans, including some famous ones.
Fans of others NFL teams were told the league wanted them in a documentary and that they would be contacted via FaceTime, but when those fans responded, they got one of two groups. Group one included Post Malone, TimTheTatman, Rowdy and two Cowboys cheerleaders, and group two had Jerry Jones, Dak Prescott, Michael Irvin, Rowdy and two Cowboys cheerleaders. When the person answers FaceTime, whoever is on the Cowboys side remains silent and doesn’t move.
The dad jokes were next level for the Steelers video. Pittsburgh players do their best to make James Harrison laugh with their corny jokes, which fall in line with another NFL team. It’s not an easy task, but Harrison admits the final joke is a good one.
Question: “What part of the body always loses?”
Answer: “Da-feet”
Josh Allen living in the Bills’ pit looks like an episode of a sitcom and reads like one in his scheduled release video. At his “house” he has a precision tire and a golf club, what more could you need? He is seen cleaning his things while listing the opposing teams.
The Dolphins took a simple approach. Equipped with some of the fastest players in the league on their team, they decided to play with that speed and make a very quick revelation. I liked that they used something relevant to their current group of players to promote the schedule.
