Long time Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65
Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday, the franchise announced.He was 65.
Specifics of his
death are not yet known, though Irsay has dealt with various health concerns in recent years. The Colts said that Irsay” died quietly in his sleep “on Wednesday afternoon.” Jim’s commitment and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, dedication to the neighborhood, and most significantly, his love for his family were unmatched, “the group said in a statement, in part.” Some of Jim’s fondest memories came from his youth working training school in Baltimore
and growing relationships with players, coaches and staff whom he considered his prolonged family … Basically, he wanted to make the world a better location which approach never ever fluctuated. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and special spirit.”Ad Irsay took over the Colts formally in 1997, when he inherited them from his father. He was 37 at the time,
though he initially
began as an executive with the franchise in 1984 when his dad, Robert Irsay, still owned the team. Robert initially got the franchise in 1972 for about $12 million in an offer that basically switched his ownership of the Los Angeles Rams. He moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis the exact same year that Jim started working there.The Colts had a number of terrific runs under Irsay’s watch, most notably throughout the 2006 project when quarterback Peyton Manning and head coach Tony Dungy led them to a Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears. That was the team’s very first Super Bowl win because 1970. The Colts made it back to the Super Bowl 3 seasons later on previously being up to the New Orleans Saints because contest.Irsay also supervised the transition into Lucas Oil Arena, where the Colts relocated 2008. That arena has become a staple in sports, holding occasions like the Super Bowl, the Big Ten football national championship, Final Fours and the NFL scouting combine.Irsay dealt with drugs and alcohol throughout his life, and he was very open about it. He checked into a rehab center in 2014 after an arrest on driving under the influence and possession charges, which was one of 15 times in his life he had been to rehab. He revealed in 2023 that a past overdose stopped his breathing and nearly eliminated him. He was discovered unresponsive in his home in December 2023 of a presumed overdose. Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away Wednesday afternoon, the group announced. He was 65.(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)(Justin Casterline through Getty Images)Irsay’s public appearances dwindled after that. The Colts revealed in January 2024 that he was fighting a”severe respiratory health problem”after he wasn’t seen publicly in weeks.Advertisement Amidst his struggles, the Irsay family has actually contributed more than$25 million over the last few years to companies committed to mental health and dependency work.Irsay was likewise a passionate collector. He acquired a lot of unusual products for his collection, like an Elton John piano to traditional guitars to a Muhammad Ali championship belt. His collection of more than 500 products even drew a deal from a bidder in the Middle East for more than$1
billion, he told ESPN in 2015, though he decreased. Irsay likewise had his own band, the “Jim Irsay Band,”and played frequently.Irsay’s love for the Colts and sports throughout Indianapolis as a whole never wavered. He even posted about the Indiana Pacers– who opened their Eastern Conference finals series with the New york city Knicks on Wednesday night, which the Pacers won in exhilarating style– on social media a couple of hours before his death.Irsay is made it through by his 3 children, his ex-wife and mother of his kids, Meg Coyle, and 10 grandchildren.Advertisement Irsay said he planned to pass the team onto his children after his death, and all 3 of them were offered an ownership title in 2012. They have actually held active roles in the company, though Irsay’s particular succession plan is not openly known.” We are deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today,”NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a declaration, in part.” Jim was a buddy, and a male
deeply committed to his household, the game, the Colts and the Indianapolis neighborhood. He invested his life and career in the National
Football League … On behalf of the entire NFL, I extend my genuine condolences to Jim’s children and their families, and to his numerous buddies throughout the NFL. “Former Colts speak out after Jim Irsay’s death Numerous previous Colts players– including Manning, Reggie Wayne and TY Hilton– and others in the group’s orbit spoke out and paid tribute to Irsay after his death on social media.