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Jim Irsay, who grew up around the NFL’s Colts before assuming control of the team himself, died in his sleep Wednesday at 65, the team announced.
No details on the cause of death were provided, but Irsay had been facing health challenges over the past few years. When he showed up at the Colts’ training camp the previous summer, it marked his first public appearance since the last season, as reported by the Indianapolis Star. The team owner shared with the publication that he had been recovering after several surgeries following a fall at his residence.
Irsay was just 13 when his father, Robert, acquired the Baltimore Colts in 1972. After the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984, the younger Irsay was appointed as the team’s vice president and general manager, eventually becoming its chief operating officer in 1996.
Upon his father’s death in 1997, Irsay took over his family’s business as the team’s owner and chief executive.
“Jim’s passion and respect for the NFL, along with its history, traditions, and values, inspired him to become a guardian of the game during his more than 50 years in the League,” the Colts expressed in a statement.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” over Irsay’s death.
“He spent his life and career in the National Football League,” Goodell said. “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. Jim’s Colts won the Super Bowl, hosted another and built Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Beyond football, Irsay was known for his collection of pop-culture, historic and music artifacts, including guitars played by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Prince; a first edition of Allen Ginsberg’s poem, Howl;” and items used by American presidents. He had also spoken candidly about his history of addiction. In 2023, he told HBO’s Real Sports that he had been in rehab at least 15 times.
Irsay is survived by daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson.
