Latest news with #ColtsOrganization
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Irsay, longtime Indianapolis Colts owner, dies at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday. The Colts said Irsay died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Wednesday afternoon. No cause of death was given. Advertisement '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,' the team said in a statement. Irsay was one of the league's most high-profile owners and was remembered as a fierce advocate for Indiana's capital city. He frequently spoke with reporters and was heavily involved in the Colts' football operations, making him one of the most visible figures in the NFL during his decades in charge of the franchise. Before becoming the owner of the franchise, Irsay was named general manager at 24 years old, the youngest in team history to ever hold that job, according to the Colts. In 1995, he took a more prominent role within the team before becoming the sole owner in December 1997, after the death of his father, Robert Irsay. Advertisement During his time with the organization, the Colts won 10 division championships, made two Super Bowl appearances and oversaw the team winning their fourth title in 2006, when Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. 'Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit,' the team added. Earlier on Wednesday, Irsay tweeted his support for the Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. 'Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!,' Irsay wrote. Advertisement NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Irsay a 'friend' and a 'man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.' 'He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts' players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country,' Goodell added. '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.' Irsay previously struggled with addiction issues; in an interview with Real Sports on HBO, Irsay said he had been to rehab at least 15 times and had previously overdosed after mixing multiple drugs at the same time. He was arrested in 2014 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and prescription pills were found in his possession. Advertisement In December 2023, Irsay was found unresponsive and cold to the touch in what a police report described as an overdose. The Colts later responded to the report in a statement, saying Irsay 'continues to recover from his respiratory illness.' Irsay always denied that the incident was an overdose. Irsay was an advocate for those dealing with addiction issues and often spoke about getting rid of the stigma around addiction issues. In 2018, he purchase the founding document of Alcoholics Anonymous with plans to make it available to the public, according to the Associated Press. Irsay was a collector of historical items, including the original scroll manuscript of Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road,' which was written on to eight sheets of paper that had been taped together to allow the Beat writer to write continuously on his typewriter. The Irsay Collection also consisted of hundreds of musical instruments owned by famous musicians, the boots Muhammad Ali wore during his famous 'Thrilla in Manila' fight against Joe Frazier, the volleyball Wilson from the movie 'Castaway' and letters from Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Advertisement The eclectic Colts owner also played in his eponymous band, often playing at events showcasing items from his collection. Former Colts quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning said he was 'heartbroken' to hear about Irsay's passing. 'He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL,' Manning wrote. 'His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18.' The Colts are scheduled to open up the 2025 NFL regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins on September 7. This story has been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at
CNN
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Jim Irsay, longtime Indianapolis Colts owner, dies at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday. The Colts said Irsay died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Wednesday afternoon. No cause of death was given. '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,' the team said in a statement. Before becoming the owner of the franchise, Irsay was named general manager at 24 years old, the youngest in team history to ever hold that job, according to the Colts. In 1995, he took a more prominent role within the team before becoming the sole owner in December 1997, after the death of his father, Robert Irsay. During his time with the organization, the Colts won 10 division championships, made two Super Bowl appearances and oversaw the team winning their fourth title in 2006, when Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. 'Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit,' the team added. Earlier on Wednesday, Irsay tweeted his support for the Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. 'Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!,' Irsay wrote. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Irsay a 'friend' and a 'man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.' 'He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts' players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country,' Goodell added. '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.'
CNN
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Jim Irsay, longtime Indianapolis Colts owner, dies at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday. The Colts said Irsay died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Wednesday afternoon. No cause of death was given. '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,' the team said in a statement. Before becoming the owner of the franchise, Irsay was named general manager at 24 years old, the youngest in team history to ever hold that job, according to the Colts. In 1995, he took a more prominent role within the team before becoming the sole owner in December 1997, after the death of his father, Robert Irsay. During his time with the organization, the Colts won 10 division championships, made two Super Bowl appearances and oversaw the team winning their fourth title in 2006, when Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. 'Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit,' the team added. Earlier on Wednesday, Irsay tweeted his support for the Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. 'Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!,' Irsay wrote. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Irsay a 'friend' and a 'man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.' 'He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts' players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country,' Goodell added. '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.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65
Longtime Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday, the franchise announced. He was 65. Specifics of his death are not yet known, though Irsay has dealt with various health issues in recent years. The Colts said that Irsay 'passed away peacefully in his sleep' on Wednesday afternoon. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025 "Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment ot the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed," the team said in a statement, in part. "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 ... 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." Irsay took over the Colts officially in 1997, when he inherited them from his father. He was 37 at the time, though he first started as an executive with the franchise in 1984 when his dad, Robert Irsay, still owned them. Robert first acquired the team in 1972 for about $12 million in a deal that essentially just swapped his ownership of the Los Angeles Rams. He relocated the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis the same year that Irsay started working there. The Colts had several great runs under Irsay's watch, most notably during the 2006 campaign when quarterback Peyton Manning and head coach Tony Duny led them to a Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears. That was the team's first Super Bowl win since 1970. The Colts made it back to the Super Bowl three seasons later, though they fell to the New Orleans Saints in that contest. Irsay also oversaw the transition into Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts moved into in 2008. That stadium has become a staple in the sports world, holding events like the Super Bowl, the Big Ten Championship game, Final Fours, the NFL Draft Combine and more. Irsay struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his life, and he was very open about it. He checked into a rehab center in 2014 after an arrest on driving under the influence and possession charges, which was one of 15 times in his life he had been to rehab, and he revealed in 2023 that a past overdose stopped his breathing and almost killed him. He was found unresponsive in his home in December 2023 of a suspected overdose, too. Irsay's public appearances dwindled after that. The Colts revealed in January 2024 that he was battling a 'severe respiratory illness' after he hadn't been seen publicly in weeks. But even amid his struggles and his health issues, Irsay's love for the Colts and sports throughout Indianapolis as a whole never wavered. He even posted about the Indiana Pacers — who opened their Eastern Conference finals series with the New York Knicks on Wednesday night — on social media just a few hours before his death. Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city! 💪❤️ — Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 21, 2025 Irsay is survived by his three daughters, his ex-wife and mother of his children Meg Coyle, and 10 grandchildren. "We are deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay's passing today," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, in part. "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 ... 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." This post will be updated with more information shortly.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Jim Irsay, longtime Indianapolis Colts owner, dies at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Wednesday. The Colts said Irsay died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Wednesday afternoon. No cause of death was given. '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,' the team said in a statement. Before becoming the owner of the franchise, Irsay was named general manager at 24 years old, the youngest in team history to ever hold that job, according to the Colts. In 1995, he took a more prominent role within the team before becoming the sole owner in December 1997, after the death of his father, Robert Irsay. During his time with the organization, the Colts won 10 division championships, made two Super Bowl appearances and oversaw the team winning their fourth title in 2006, when Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. 'Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit,' the team added. Earlier on Wednesday, Irsay tweeted his support for the Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. 'Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!,' Irsay wrote. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Irsay a 'friend' and a 'man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.' 'He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts' players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country,' Goodell added. '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.'
