Jim Irsay, Colts Owner & CEO of 28 years, has died at 65
Indianapolis Colts Own Jim Irsay looks on during the ceremony for Dwight Freeney at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. | Photo byJim Irsay, the former Indianapolis Colts Owner and Ceo, has died at the age of 65, the team announced Wednesday.
Despite battling numerous health issues over the past few decades, the Colts announced Mr. Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep Wednesday afternoon.
Advertisement
The son of Robert Irsay, who purchased the Baltimore Colts franchise in 1972 for $12 million. The elder Irsay moved the Colts to Indianapolis overnight on March 28, 1984. At just 24-years-old, Jim was named team vice president and general manager, setting a never-before-seen precedent in the NFL. Jim inherited the franchise from his father following his passing in 1997 and became the youngest owner in the NFL at age 37.
Within a decade of ownership, Irsay brought the Circle City to the pinnacle of professional football as Indianapolis won its first Super Bowl title in 2006. The Super Bowl XLI championship team featured six Pro Football Hall of Famers, including quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., defensive end Dwight Freeney, kicker Adam Vinatieri, head coach Tony Dungy and general manager Bill Polian. The Colts collected 10 division titles, made two Super Bowl appearances and compiled a 257-194-1 record under Jim Irsay's ownership.
Irsay dealt with a history of addiction to prescription painkillers, which led to enrolling in a rehabilitation center in 2002. He later dealt with a severe respiratory illness after a suspected overdose of opiods in December 2023. Irsay last spoke to the local media at the Colts training camp at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. in July 2024. The Colts did not announce a cause of death in Wednesday's statement.
The Colts released an official statement through social media:
Advertisement
'We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed. Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them.'
'Some of Jim's fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family. He worked in every department before he was named the youngest general manager in team history in 1984 when the Colts arrived in Indianapolis. After he took sole ownership in 1997, he led the Colts to a long series of division titles and brought the city its first Super Bowl Championship. Jim's love and appreciation for the NFL in addition to its history, tradition, and principles influenced him to become a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the League.'
'Jim's generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim's passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.'
Born in Lincolnwood, Ill., Irsay was a polarizing public figure who has been inside the league since he was 12-years-old. Irsay walked on as a linebacker to Southern Methodist University and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism in 1982.
Advertisement
Irsay leaves behind three daughters. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Jim's oldest daughter, along with his two other daughters Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, are expected to inherit and control ownership of the franchise moving forward.
More from stampedeblue.com:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Travis Kelce Owns He Is ‘Furry' After Photos of Hairy Back Go Viral
Travis Kelce's hairy back has turned into a hot topic of discussion after he admitted to being a 'furry son of a b—-' as his post-workout photos went viral. The NFL star has been all about body positivity, as shirtless snaps of him following a sunny morning workout in Miami surfaced on the internet. Kelce has reportedly moved to his $20 million Florida mansion and has turned the property into his 'base of operations' to prepare for the upcoming season after this year's Super Bowl defeat. The pictures showed his back hair, and he didn't mind owning it. Travis Kelce says he is a 'furry son of a b—-' after back hair photos make the rounds There's something too honest-to-goodness about Travis Kelce accepting he is 'furry' in the latest 'New Heights' podcast episode, as his hairy back photos make rounds. While speaking to his brother, Jason, about the Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 schedule and their upcoming game in September against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, the tight end expressed his excitement about getting to play in front of international fans. 'Can't wait to get down there and see all the Brazil fans and how they get rocking for some American Football,' he stated. Advertisement Kelce then professed his love for international games, but his brother was quick to declare that the only thing they don't like is the 'heat.' The former, agreeing that he doesn't bode well with 'heat,' claimed he was wearing 'two shirts' during the segment of the episode. His demonstration, however, seemingly suggested that he was referring to his body hair under the second tee. 'I'm wearing two shirts right now. I have and it's all — it connects,' the Chiefs star said while pointing out that his shirt extends to his back and neck. Travis Kelce finally owned that he's a 'furry son of a b—-,' which came in light of the paparazzi photos showing his back hair. He explained that because of this, he and heat 'just don't do well together.' Kelce also clarified that he was still 'excited' for their offshore game and admitted that he 'will be doing some wardrobe changes throughout the game.' Elsewhere, his preparation for the season, which could be his last, is at full swing after he reportedly moved to Florida to train, turning his lavish mansion into his 'base of operations.' Originally reported by Nikita Mahato on Reality Tea. The post Travis Kelce Owns He Is 'Furry' After Photos of Hairy Back Go Viral appeared first on Mandatory.
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
New York Giants brass impressed with Evan Neal as he transitions to guard
New York Giants brass impressed with Evan Neal as he transitions to guard Former New York Giants first-round pick Evan Neal is making a position switch this summer from offensive tackle to guard. It's not a natural progression for a 6-foot-7, 340-pound player who is seen as a prototypical tackle. Neal, the seventh overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of powerhouse Alabama, was seen as a "cant-miss" prospect who somehow missed. Injuries and underperformance have caused the Giants to move off of Neal and try him somewhere else along the line. It would be a real boon for Big Blue if Neal could make the transition. On Thursday, assistant general manager Brandon Brown spoke about how the experiment was going thus far at organized team activities (OTAs). "I think when you look at the job description in our system for the guard, can he create movement at the line of scrimmage? Can he keep the interior firm in pass protection? We've seen Evan do it before. We need the flashes to be consistent," Brown told reporters. "He's been fully bought in with the move. Just knowing that leaning on your strengths, there are not that many men that are as big as he is inside at guard and playing with better balance. Carm (Bricillo) and James (Ferentz) have been working with him throughout this spring. Evan is putting in his work. "We're excited to see what he shows when the pads come on in training camp. Excited to see that he has the physical tools and skill set to transition inside. We just need to see it consistently." Neal has all been written off by fans and pundits after three seasons as a bust. The Giants' effort to salvage his career with a position change is being seen as a longshot. Although his path is clear and he will be given every opportunity to win a spot, it's difficult to see Neal pulling this off. Brown believes Neal's size, strength and natural ability will work to his advantage. "He's a big man," Brown said. "When you look at the prototype size, you can look throughout the league, offensive lines like Baltimore, et cetera. There are guys, some of the guys in Philly, that are larger than the typical prototype." Brown highlighted that Neal's quickness didn't work for him at tackle but may work for him at guard. "What is the job description and the technique? If you're asking him to pull out in space and do a lot of redirecting at the second level, that is not his game," Brown said. "He's a power broker. He's a guy that can create movement. He's a guy that can absorb power, anchor in pass protection. We have to keep improving the technique, work on his hand usage and his balance. (Offensive line coaches James Ferentz and Carmen Bricillo) are committed to that." Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka also chimed in on Neal's progress at Thursday's OTA. "Evan is doing a nice job," Kafka said. "He's in transition. He did it in college. And again, just like the nature of the camp. It's not a full-padded camp, but there is a lot of fundamentals you can work, individual drills, pass set drills, and Evan is doing a nice job. Happy for him." During Thursday's session, Neal even took some first-team reps at guard.
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
New York Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson praises Russell Wilson: 'Easy to catch'
New York Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson praises Russell Wilson: 'Easy to catch' The New York Giants have a brand new quarterback room this season, led by 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. The Giants have not played a down in earnest yet with Wilson under center, but early returns indicate the team feels they are marked better than they were in years past with him throwing passes, especially deep ones. "That deep ball just drops right in the bucket, for sure. And then whenever he's throwing just the shorter routes and stuff like that, it kind of comes in like a pillow," said wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson at the Giants' OTA session on Thursday. "It's really, really easy to catch, which I like. "The first time we threw, me and (Darius) Slay(ton) were both like, this is actually better than we expected. And so, no, we were ecstatic about it, and couldn't be more happy that he's our quarterback." Wilson, with his long resume of success and neverending positivity, is a breath of fresh air for this dormant Giant offense. "Russell, he's been a guy that when you look at what he's done from Seattle to Pittsburgh, it was a mesh and fit for our scheme," Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown told the media on Thursday, "We knew we needed to push the ball down the field a lot more. You guys have seen him do that in practice. That's an ability and knack that is unique for Russ." The Giants were one of the worst deep passing teams in the NFL last season and Wilson's presence should help change that as we at Giants Wire recently outlined. Wilson the NFL with a 97.3 deep passing grade last season. Even with the addition of superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers, the Giants struggled to throw the ball downfield last season. As a team, they recorded just a 67.4 deep passing grade in 2024, 4th-worst in the NFL. Wilson has certainly looked the part this spring and his receivers are happy. All things considered, it's a positive start.
