The release of the full NFL schedule has become an excuse for America’s most ubiquitous sports league to secure another day on the calendar, and the social media teams around the league have joined in the fun and increasingly polished content in recent years creates videos to announce their appointments.
Honestly, what this year’s Steelers video shows is all pretty silly. But it’s May and some of them are really funny, so this year we decided to look at all 32 and rank them.
There were a few themes: several teams used artificial intelligence for support, or at least used it as a backdrop for a joke. Two teams have embraced the idea of NFL games being scripted (and one has done it much better than the other). Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have found some shade.
The Chargers were strong back. The Broncos got Angela from The Office. And I think the jets have found a real magician.
But there was a clear winner of the week, and it wasn’t one of those teams, so let’s get to the list.
Tennessee won this “contest” so clearly that two other teams in the league immediately used jokes from the video on their own social media accounts. The Titans made an ‘official’ Schedule release video It featured cameos from Keith Urban, Nate Bargatze and Jeff Fisher, but the add-on video, which simply asked random people on Broadway in Nashville to identify opponents by their logo, went viral.
From now on, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will always be Lightning McQueen to me, and I won’t be able to look at the Browns helmet without thinking “just the football logo.” As of Friday afternoon, the Falcons’ official Twitter page called the team “Red Stallions” and the Colts “Not the Cowboys.”
Using the idea of scripted games wasn’t original this year, but the Jaguars pulled it off well enough to secure that spot. Right at the beginning there is a look at the former coach Urban Meyer and the fact that he “did not fly with the team”. Owner Shad Khan pops his mustache and claims his look was created entirely by a Hollywood wardrobe department, which is 100 percent believable given his looks. There’s a clear dig at Rodgers and his retreat into obscurity, and the coaches and players involved gave their all, particularly coach Doug Pederson. Wide receiver Zay Jones might even have a future as an actor.
3. Denver Broncos
The fact that a spoof of The Office ranks higher on the list than the Chargers anime production is a sure sign of the judge’s age (none of your business) but getting Angela Kinsey, who played Angela Martin Acting as a party planner was a great idea. (Characters Meredith and Creed also had guest appearances.) Somehow, Peyton Manning is funny in every role, and Denver used his slightly unsettling horse mascot to appropriate effect. A nice “nothing to choke on” to the Chargers set the tone.
4.Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers went anime-themed for the second year in a row. Not original, but they pulled it off so well last year we’ll let it. Once again, her social media team was in no slouch, joking about the Chiefs fan being charged with bank robbery, several Lions players being suspended for gambling, Zach Wilson making a Puma joke and the nasty fight against Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
5. Indianapolis Colts
Defensive players DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart ate through the game plan. Two fun guys with a good relationship. Great looking food. And rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson ended up doing the dishes. This video secured its place by using lemon pepper wings as the food label for Atlanta. If you don’t know why this is funny then you obviously weren’t with us during the pandemic.
6.Detroit Lions
The oddly animated voices of coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes play out the Madden video game schedule while saying things I mostly didn’t understand. (I think I know what “sus” means because I’m two teenagers.) Campbell’s search for Madden for rookie linebacker Jack Campbell’s “grit rating” was the high point.
The idea of a retirement home for former Patriots was a good idea. Devin McCourty kept the action going and Tom Brady’s entrance at the end stole the show. (By the way, I don’t want to know what’s in Gronk’s Secret Sauce.)
They used dogs, especially the players’ and coaches’ dogs. Dogs automatically make it a top 10 finish.
9. New York Jets
I had no idea who Trevor Rainbolt was until this video. I’m still not sure I know. And I definitely don’t understand how he does what he does. I’m pretty sure it’s magic.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Rounding out the top 10 is the team poking fun at all this silliness, appropriately using the terms “malarkey”, “stupidity” and “gimmicks”. It’s a parody of a 1950’s after-school special and it’s well worth a look.
points for prominent with a long snapperhighlighting Hayden Hurst’s hair and the reveal portion of the TV talk show.
12. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland doesn’t care that many people find his elf mascot odd. In fact it worked everything on brownie that year, making him a wrestler who takes out goofy opponents and indiscriminately pokes fun at Russell Wilson’s voice.
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13.Atlanta Falcons
An A for effort, but there’s a lot going on here. This is another instance likely targeting a younger audience. Performances by Quavo and Big Boi stand out, though The highlight is Roger Skaerwho is the “F Around and Find Out” type. In this case, it’s Falcon Around and Find Out.
The parody of the TV show “The Bear”. was well done but may not translate well outside of the Chicago area. “If you’re passionate about the Vikings, go hiking” is really funny though.
The dream job bucket was kind of fun but worth seeing Josh Allen wobbles on this bike made me wince a little. I can only imagine how quickly anyone in the PR department would have been fired if they had fallen and dislocated their shoulder there.
16. Washington Commanders
Another AI theme that borrowed heavily from Washington’s weird new pig mascot, and the AI Ron Rivera kinda gave me goosebumps. In total, probably too heavy for the pig Theme.
It’s just Lamar Jackson talking. Baltimore is so lucky Lamar is still in town that he’ll do just about anything from now on. Went this up three spots in the leaderboard just because I love Lamar’s new hairdo.
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Nothing special though Solid drone work This involved a lot of people in the building.
The one used children presumably from gamers, in their video. It’s pretty cute and you can only rate a video with kids that low without losing a few hereafter points.
A tight 1:20 with a Original rap song with good texts with all opponents.
Another parody of Idea of scripted gamesjust not nearly as well done as Jacksonville.
A escape room theme, and after more than five minutes I wanted to do just that.
Pretty “meh” overall, but saved by a cameo appearance by Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Purevalwho announced the Chiefs game and then said, “I have nothing else to say.”
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A Infomercial parody that actually communicated the schedule, which some of these other videos failed to do.
Two players. Weird AI jokes. Strangely costumed pirates.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Much like the entire team, the felt like a Jerry Jones vanity project. Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan was seen casting for his show. I guess we’re supposed to think Jones ends up having a Cowboys brand? Not a hit for me.
The dolphins used a theme cinema although Mike McDaniel is their coach. Just give this guy 3:29 and let him trick the opponents.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Most of the time, Patrick Mahomes texts people, but the Rubik’s Cube Wall That thing was kind of cool I think.
Not unforgettable. The The social media team is rebuilding itselfto.
Why are the opponents of the bird team? poop on your car, Houston? It kind of makes me think there will be casualties.
But not a big effort didn’t waste my time. Only 23 seconds long.
32. Las Vegas Raiders
That’s 4:06 hours of my life that I can’t get back.
(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)