Jim Irsay, who grew up around the NFL’s Colts before he assumed control of the team himself, died in his sleep Wednesday at 65, the team announced.
When he appeared at the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp last summer, it was his first public appearance since the previous season, The Indianapolis Star reported, and he told the Star that he had been recuperating after having undergone several operations following a fall at his home.
Upon his father’s death in 1997, Irsay took over his family’s business as the team’s owner and chief executive.
His time in ownership overlapped with the arrival of quarterback Peyton Manning, who led the Colts to a win in the Super Bowl in 2007.
Jim’s Colts won the Super Bowl, hosted another and built Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Jim Irsay, who grew up near the NFL’s Colts before taking over the team himself, passed away in his sleep on Wednesday at the age of 65, the team said.
There was no explanation for the death. In recent years, Irsay had struggled with health issues. He made his first public appearance since the previous season last summer when he showed up at the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp, according to The Indianapolis Star. He told the Star that he had been recovering from multiple surgeries after suffering a fall at home.
In 1972, Irsay’s father, Robert, purchased the Baltimore Colts when he was thirteen years old. The younger Irsay was named general manager and vice president when the team relocated to Indianapolis in 1984; in 1996, he was promoted to chief operating officer.
Irsay became the team’s owner and CEO after his father passed away in 1997, taking over his family’s business. His ownership period coincided with the arrival of quarterback Peyton Manning, who won the 2007 Super Bowl for the Colts.
The Colts released a statement saying, “Jim’s passion and admiration for the NFL, along with its history, tradition, and values, inspired him to become a steward of the game throughout his more than 50 years in the League.”.
The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, expressed his sadness in a statement. “.”.
Goodell stated that “he spent his life and career in the National Football League.”. Before taking over as the Colts’ leader about 30 years ago, he learned every position in the organization while playing ball as a teenager. In addition to building Lucas Oil Stadium, Jim’s Colts won the Super Bowl and hosted another. “.
In addition to football, Irsay was well-known for his collection of pop culture, historical, and musical artifacts, which included items used by presidents, a first edition of Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl,” and guitars played by Prince, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon. In addition, he had been open about his past addiction. He admitted on HBO’s “Real Sports” in 2023 that he had overdosed once and had spent at least 15 times in rehab.
Irsay’s daughters, Kalen Jackson, Casey Foyt, and Carlie Irsay-Gordon, survive him.
