The 2025 NFL schedule release on Wednesday, May 14, was a showcase of creativity as teams battled to drop the most viral videos, but the Indianapolis Colts found themselves in hot water. Their Minecraft-themed schedule release video, meant to be a fun reveal of their 2025 slate, was pulled down within hours after sparking backlash for two major reasons: an “insensitive” jab at Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and a violation of Microsoft’s intellectual property rights.
The Colts’ video kicked off by announcing their Week 1 matchup against the Dolphins on September 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium. In the clip, a dolphin labeled “Hill” wearing a No. 10 jersey—a clear nod to Tyreek Hill—was shown swimming before a Coast Guard boat with a blaring siren pulled up, hinting at an arrest. The scene referenced Hill’s real-life run-in with Miami police in September 2024, when he was detained outside Hard Rock Stadium before the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jaguars. Hill, cited for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt, was forcibly removed from his car and pinned to the ground, an incident that drew widespread attention after bodycam footage surfaced. The charges were later dropped when an officer failed to appear at a hearing, but the moment remains a sore spot.
The Colts’ attempt at humor didn’t land well with some fans, who called the portrayal inappropriate given the context of Hill’s detainment, which he later described as excessive—“They beat the dog out of me,” he said at the time. Hill’s history with legal issues is well-documented, including accusations of assaulting a marina worker, breaking a model’s leg in a backyard game, and domestic violence incidents dating back to college. While the author of the prompt suggests “public shaming” of Hill might not be a bad idea, the Colts clearly felt the clip crossed a line. Hill himself, however, took it in stride, tweeting, “Should’ve left it up
@Colts, this was funny,” as reported by The Athletic.
The Tyreek Hill joke wasn’t the only issue. With A Minecraft Movie dominating the box office, both the Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers leaned into the game’s aesthetic for their schedule release videos. The Chargers’ version, which also took playful shots at opponents like the Dolphins, earned rave reviews and stayed online, thanks to a disclaimer stating they had Microsoft’s permission to use Minecraft’s imagery. The Colts, however, failed to secure the same clearance, violating Microsoft’s IP rights since Minecraft is owned by the tech giant, which bought the game for $2.5 billion in 2014. The Colts’ video used proprietary Minecraft-style animation without approval, a misstep that likely would’ve forced its removal regardless of the Hill controversy.
The team issued a statement, first reported by Pro Football Talk: “We removed our schedule release video because it exceeded our rights with Microsoft and included an insensitive clip involving Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. We sincerely apologize to Microsoft and Tyreek.” They also reached out to Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to extend their apologies, per ESPN. The Colts replaced the video with a simpler thread of Microsoft Paint artwork by
@nba_paint, a far cry from the polished Minecraft production.
This wasn’t the only schedule release video to stir the pot this week. The Atlanta Falcons, as noted in your previous prompt, took a jab at Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson in their Mario Kart-themed video, referencing Hudson’s “We’re not talking about this” quip from a CBS interview. Unlike the Colts, the Falcons kept their video up, avoiding legal or sensitivity issues. The NFL doesn’t review these videos before posting, per league spokesman Brian McCarthy, leaving teams to navigate the risks themselves.
For the Colts, the fallout is a reminder of the fine line teams walk when chasing viral fame. Their 2025 season kicks off against Hill and the Dolphins, a game now tinged with extra tension after this misstep. They’ll hope to shift the narrative on the field, but for now, their schedule release serves as a cautionary tale: creativity can backfire when it’s not paired with due diligence. There’s always next year to get it right—maybe they’ll steer clear of Minecraft and stick to safer territory.
