In a recent twist during the annual NFL schedule release, two teams, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts, embraced the creative world of Minecraft to unveil their upcoming matchups for the 2025 season. However, the Colts found themselves in a precarious situation when their video was swiftly taken down due to a licensing conflict with Microsoft, the owner of Minecraft and a prominent sponsor of the NFL.
Each year, NFL teams engage in a playful tradition of releasing schedule videos, often filled with lighthearted jabs at rival teams, fostering a sense of camaraderie and competition. This year, however, the Colts’ attempt at humor took an unfortunate turn. Their video featured a crude joke about Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, alongside what was described as an “insensitive clip” involving the player.
The Colts apologize for Minecraft video
Following the removal of the contentious video, the Colts reached out to ESPN to address the situation. In a statement, the team expressed regret, stating, “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.”
Fortunately, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated that the wide receiver took the incident in stride, finding humor in the situation rather than offense. “Tyreek laughed it off,” Rosenhaus remarked, highlighting a lighter side amidst the controversy.
Beyond the Colts’ misstep, the incident raises questions about adherence to licensing agreements within the league. The Chargers’ video, in contrast, appropriately credited Microsoft for its use of Minecraft imagery, while the Colts’ version lacked any such disclaimer. This discrepancy has sparked speculation regarding whether the Indianapolis team secured the necessary permissions to utilize Microsoft’s intellectual property.
