Longtime owner of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, ed away on Wednesday at the age of 65. The team stated that Irsay died "peacefully in his sleep." No cause of death was given by the team.
Irsay first stepped into the spotlight of the NFL as a fresh-faced 24-year-old GM. The young Irsay was named the team's Vice President and General Manager by his father, and team owner, Robert Irsay.
As GM, Irsay had three winning seasons in 10 years, making the playoffs once, where the Colts lost in the divisional round to the Cleveland Browns.
Success Came Later For Irsay
All of the Colts' success came when Jim Irsay stepped into the owner's box in 1997 shortly after the ing of his father. By 1999, the Colts finished first in their division for the first time in 12 years, leading to a 15-year run of success.
Between 1999 and 2014, the Colts finished first in their division 10 times, winning the AFC Championship twice and the Super Bowl once in 2006 with a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears. Under Irsay's ownership from 1997 to 2024, the Colts amassed a 257-194 record (0.570).
Irsay's Legacy With The Colts
In announcing the ing of their beloved owner, the Colts mention his generosity and how he helps numerous organizations, including Alcoholics Anonymous, which he believed saved "millions of lives".
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025
He also routinely spoke about the stigma surrounding substance abuse disorders and was often seen wearing his "Kicking The Stigma" pin. Kicking the Stigma was founded by Irsay and the Colts in 2020 to raise awareness around mental health.
Irsay himself battles with substance abuse, having gone to rehab at least 15 times and suffered from multiple overdoses after mixing drugs. He was also arrested in 2014 for operating his car while under the influence. Police found pills in his possession during his arrest.
The expectation is that Irsay's daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will take over as the primary owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
