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The Indianapolis Colts deleted their schedule announcement video and issued an apology to both Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Microsoft after parodying Minecraft and including an "insensitive clip" parodying Hill's arrest last season.
"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," the team said in a statement to ESPN on Thursday.
The video spoofed Minecraft to take jabs at the Colts' opponents for the upcoming 2025 NFL season, which included the season opener against Miami showing a Dolphin wearing a No. 10 jersey labeled "Hill" swimming along before being stopped by a blaring siren ringing from a Coast Guard boat. Hill was dragged from his vehicle, taken to the ground and forcibly handcuffed during a traffic stop while en route to the Dolphins' Week 1 game last September.
Traffic citations issued against Hill during the incident were later dropped. Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client actually found the Colts' video to be funny.
"He laughed about it and didn't think they needed to take it down on his account," Rosenhaus said via ESPN.
Microsoft, however, would likely be less enthused by the rights violation as it's unclear whether the Colts sought permission before the video was released. The Los Angeles Chargers also used Minecraft for their schedule release video, but were granted permission from Microsoft.