The Colts wanted to avoid landing in hot water over their sea-themed Tyreek Hill detainment joke.
Indianapolis deleted from X its “Minecraft”-themed schedule release video that mocked Hill being detained by officers outside of Hard Rock Stadium before Week 1 last season for being “insensitive,” and due to licensing issues with Microsoft regarding the use of “Minecraft” elements.
“We removed our schedule release video because it exceeded our rights with Microsoft and included an insensitive clip involving Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill,” the Colts said in a statement Thursday, according to Pro Football Talk. “We sincerely apologize to Microsoft and Tyreek.”
The shot that mocked Hills’ detainment. @droppedballspod/XThe controversial segment featured a dolphin wearing a No. 10 jersey with “Hill” written in a block above it, swimming before an officer in a Coast Guard boat shows up to ruin the fun.
The Dolphin’s eyes actually drop — yes, in an animated way — in the video upon the boat’s arrival.
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Pro Football Talk that the Miami star thought the video was funny.
“He laughed about it and didn’t think they needed to take it down on his account,” Rosenhaus said.
The “Minecraft” theme is connected to the recently released movie about the popular game.
The video did not stay up long, with the rival Texans mocking their AFC South foes by quote-tweeting the post being deleted with a screenshot accompanied by the text: “Error404.”
That brief clip is in reference to Hill’s controversial detainment on Sept. 8, when officers pulled him over outside of the Dolphins’ home stadium before a Week 1 win over the Jaguars.
The Tyreek Hill dolphin in the Colts’ video. @droppedballspod/XOfficers forcibly removed Hill from his car, with one putting his hands around Hill’s neck, and put handcuffs on the receiver, who was stomach-down on the ground.
Hill received tickets for careless driving and a seatbelt violation that were later dismissed.
Tyreek Hill being detained last September. Miami-Dade Police Department
Tyreek Hill is preparing for his fourth year with the Dolphins. APSteadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, claimed Hill had been driving in a way that put others in “great risk of danger.”
Danny Torres, one of the officers who detained Hill, landed on administrative duties for his role in the incident. Hill called for Torres to be fired in a statement provided by his attorney, Julius B. Collins.
“After a careful and thorough review of the multiple body cameras and concern citizens’ videos that captured the unfortunate events that transpired on Sunday, September 8, 2024, between several officers of the Miami Dade Police Department and Tyreek Hill, we are demanding for the immediate termination of the officer that has been placed on administrative leave,” Hill said in a statement.
The legal issues with “Minecraft” are notable since the Chargers also used the popular game for their video, but they posted a legal disclaimer at the beginning.
The since-deleted Colts video did not have that language.
“Minecraft used with permission from Microsoft Corporation, any opinions or commentary in this video are not endorsed by Microsoft Corporations or Mojang AB, TM,” the video stated.
The Chargers’ video contained this language. @chargers/XThe Colts open the season against Miami on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. ET in a battle of two teams that fell short of the postseason in 2025.
Hill returns to the Dolphins for a fourth season despite rumors he may want out, while the Colts enter the year not seemingly knowing if Anthony Richardson is their quarterback of the future.
They signed Daniel Jones to serve as competition for Richardson and possibly start.
If only they had taken such cautious steps in posting this video, they perhaps could have been included in the schedule release video frenzy for good reasons rather than this dubious distinction.
