Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay Passes Away at 65
The NFL community is in mourning today as news emerges that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has passed away at the age of 65. Irsay had been dealing with health issues of late, having been treated for a severe respiratory illness in January 2024. According to reports from the NFL, Irsay’s passing was announced on [date], sending shockwaves throughout the sports world.
Irsay had a storied career with the Colts, having become the NFL’s youngest general manager at 25 in 1984. He took over as the team’s principal owner in 1997 and oversaw a period of significant success, including 16 playoff appearances, two AFC championships, and one Super Bowl win. Under his leadership, the Colts transformed the state of Indiana from a basketball stronghold to a football powerhouse, with the help of legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
“We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement, as reported by the NFL. “Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community. He spent his life and career in the National Football League. Starting as a teenager as a Colts’ ballboy, he learned every position in the organization before assuming leadership of the Colts approximately 30 years ago.”
Irsay’s commitment to the Colts and the NFL was unwavering, and his legacy extends far beyond the team’s on-field success. As NFL.com reports, Irsay was an active Chairman of the Legislative Committee and member of the Finance Committee, and his work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, Irsay was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country.
The NFL community is paying tribute to Irsay’s memory, with many remembering his unique approach to ownership. As Irsay told the New York Times in a 2005 interview, “Sometimes your best teachers teach you how not to do it.” This approach was shaped by his experiences working for his father, Robert Irsay, who acquired the Colts when Jim was just 12 years old. Irsay served a football apprenticeship under his father, learning everything from ticket sales to personnel evaluation.
As reported by the NFL, Irsay’s influence on the Colts was profound, and his relationship with players was particularly close. When he released Manning after a neck injury threatened his career, Irsay was visibly emotional, demonstrating a clear-eyed business acumen and a deep affection for his players. As Irsay said in the 2005 New York Times interview, “I consider myself a really serious businessman, but I think big business can have a big heart.”
During Irsay’s tenure, the Colts enjoyed a period of extraordinary consistency, winning at least 10 games 11 times during Manning’s 13 starting seasons in Indianapolis. The team won one Super Bowl and appeared in another, and Irsay oversaw the construction of a new, publicly-funded stadium. However, Irsay ultimately felt that the team underachieved, winning just one Lombardi Trophy with Manning.
In the later years of his ownership, Irsay faced significant challenges, including a period of rebuilding after Manning’s departure. As he told the New York Times in January 2012, “The bottom line is you’re trying to always go toward greatness… Continuity is a great thing; staying the course and being patient, those are important virtues. But also there is virtue in being realistic enough to know you have to make serious changes sometimes.”
The NFL community will deeply miss Jim Irsay, a man who left an indelible mark on the sport and the city of Indianapolis. As Commissioner Goodell said, “On behalf of the entire NFL, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Jim’s daughters and their families, and to his many friends throughout the NFL.” The Colts and the NFL will continue to honour Irsay’s legacy in the years to come.
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