The New England Patriots’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts had no dearth of football storylines, but one of the most interesting moments on social media had nothing to do with a touchdown.
The two teams opened the 2026 NFL preseason with a 13-13 tie at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night, August 13, but Mike Vrabel’s impressive challenge-flag throw quickly stole the spotlight.
Mike Vrabel’s Challenge Flag Throw Goes Viral… With a Caveat
Vrabel decided to challenge the ruling on a fumble involving Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who scrambled toward the sideline and was initially ruled down. However, replays appeared to show Patriots linebacker K.J. Britt knocking the ball loose before the play was over.
Instead of casually throwing the red flag toward the sideline, Vrabel took a full windup and launched it nearly 20 yards downfield.
The throw immediately went viral, and fans quickly turned the moment into jokes about the controversy surrounding Vrabel and former The Athletic insider Dianna Russini.
The reactions came quickly. NFL analyst Kei joked, “Pretended it was evidence against him and Diana.”
J. Gray took aim at the personal side of the controversy, asking, “Just how he launched his marriage?”
Thomas Hodge connected the throw directly to Russini, writing, “Vrabel yeeting his shot to Dianna Russini back in the day.” Derrick Larson went after the same storyline, saying, “He tossed that like he tossed his wedding ring when Diana Russini comes around.
Freek Falcon suggested Vrabel might have been using the moment to release some frustration, saying, “Taking all that Russini anger out, I see.”
Len Dickens went even further with his joke, posting, “Probably the same way he tossed that burner phone from Dianna!”
NFL Memes, meanwhile, turned the moment into a hypothetical conversation at home, writing, “Mike Vrabel to his phone when his wife asks why Dominos is texting him at 3 am in the morning.”
The reactions showed just how quickly a simple football moment can snowball into something much bigger on social media.
When asked about the challenge flag after the game, Vrabel insisted he would be the one holding onto that protocol when the regular season rolls around.
The jokes, of course, stemmed from the controversy that emerged in April 2026 after photos circulated online appearing to show Vrabel and Russini together. The situation led to widespread discussion about Vrabel’s personal life, his marriage, and his wedding ring.
In the aftermath, Vrabel briefly stepped away around the NFL Draft to deal with the fallout and focus on his family.
Whether Vrabel was simply letting out some frustration or making absolutely sure the officials noticed his challenge, the throw showed how quickly even a routine preseason moment can become a social media story.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.