Colts Pull Controversial Minecraft Video Mocking Tyreek Hill, Cite Microsoft Violation

The Indianapolis Colts found themselves in hot water this week after posting, then swiftly deleting, a schedule-release video that stirred up more controversy than a sideline scuffle. The animated clip, styled like the Microsoft-owned Minecraft game, was meant to hype their 2025 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. But it took a wrong turn when it depicted Dolphins star Tyreek Hill as a dolphin, only to be confronted by a Coast Guard boat with blaring sirens and a glaring police officer. The scene was a not-so-subtle nod to Hill’s widely publicized September arrest, where bodycam footage showed him pinned down by police.

The Colts yanked the video offline Wednesday night after backlash erupted, later issuing a statement admitting two fumbles: the insensitive Hill portrayal and a violation of their Microsoft agreement. “We sincerely apologize to Microsoft and Tyreek,” the team said, acknowledging the clip overstepped both creative and contractual bounds.

Interestingly, the Los Angeles Chargers also leaned into Minecraft for their schedule reveal, but they played it smarter, slapping a disclaimer on their video and sticking to actual gameplay footage rather than proprietary animation. The NFL’s long-standing partnership with Microsoft, which includes a hefty $400 million deal from 2013 and an extension in 2020, likely played a role in the Colts’ quick retreat. That deal equips teams with Microsoft Teams and Surface tablets, but apparently doesn’t grant a free pass to riff on Minecraft’s aesthetic without permission.

This misstep shows how teams navigating the social media age can trip over their own creativity, especially when sensitive real-world events are in play. The Colts’ attempt at edgy humor missed the mark, proving that even in the NFL, not every play call is a winner.