Latest news with #RobertIrsay
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Reports: Eldest daughter of Jim Irsay to claim operations role with Colts
May 22 - Late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was a hands-on decision-maker from the highest seat in the team's operation after learning under his father. Now one of Irsay's children might follow a similar path to lead the Colts following her father's death. Irsay died at 65 on Wednesday and is survived by three children. His eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, listed by the team as vice chair and co-owner, reportedly will take on an expanded role with the franchise, according to multiple reports. Irsay was the son of Robert Irsay, who grew his fortune as a heating and air conditioning contractor. He bought the Los Angeles Rams for $19 million in 1972, then swapped them the Baltimore Colts, moving them to Indianapolis in 1984. Two years out of college, Jim Irsay became the team's general manager. He held the position until taking over as owner, chairman and CEO of the Colts in 1997 when his father died. Irsay-Gordon, 44, served as an intern for the Colts and is a member of multiple league committees. She has attended owners meetings and tended to official league business at her father's side -- and independently on behalf of ownership -- since 2004. She and her siblings -- Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson -- were named as vice chair/co-owners of the Colts in 2012. Irsay-Gordon has been heavily involved in the business side of the team since then and in the past several years continued to take on more responsibility in other areas of the organization. Former Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, who was in place when the Colts released Peyton Manning and drafted Andrew Luck No. 1 overall, publicly praised Irsay-Gordon's football instincts and knowledge. She filled in when Jim Irsay was suspended for six games by the NFL in 2014. The suspension came after he entered a guilty plea to DUI charges. --Field Level Media
Japan Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who inherited the franchise from his father in 1997 to become the NFL's youngest owner, died on Wednesday at the age of 65, the team announced on social media. During his long association with the team, Irsay also became the youngest general manager in Colts franchise history when he was named GM in 1984 after his father, Robert Irsay, moved the team to Indianapolis from Baltimore. "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 posted on X. According to the statement, Irsay died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon, less than a month before his 66th birthday. No further details about the circumstances of his death were given. The Colts ran off a lengthy string of division titles under Irsay and claimed the first Super Bowl victory for Indianapolis in 2007 when they beat the Chicago Bears 29-17. The team returned to the Super Bowl in 2010 but lost to the New Orleans Saints. The Irsay NFL dynasty dates back to 1972 when Robert, who made his fortune as a heating and air-conditioning contractor, acquired the Los Angeles Rams for $12 million then immediately traded franchises with then-Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. The younger Irsay grew up around the Colts and worked his way up in the organization from on-field ball boy and ticket office clerk to ultimately becoming general manager when his father relocated the team to Indianapolis. By the time he assumed ownership of the team as chairman and chief executive officer at 37 he was the youngest franchise owner in NFL history. The following year, the Colts acquired quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick of the 1998 NFL draft and went on to become one of the league's most dominant teams of the 2000s. "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 on social media. "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." An avid fan of rock 'n roll music, Irsay amassed a multimillion dollar collection of music and sports memorabilia, including Kurt Cobain's 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, for which he paid nearly $5 million, and a Jackie Robinson home run bat. His final public message to fans was a note of support to the Colts' NBA counterparts, the Indiana Pacers, who were facing the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Wednesday.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay dead at 65
May 21 (Reuters) - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who inherited the National Football League team from his father in 1997 to become the NFL's youngest club owner, died on Wednesday at the age of 65, the team announced on social media. During his long-time association with the team Irsay also became the youngest general manager in Colts franchise history when he was named GM in 1984 after his father, Robert Irsay, moved the team to Indianapolis from Baltimore. "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 posted on X. According to the statement, Irsay died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon, less than a month before his 66th birthday. No further details about the circumstances of his death were given. The Colts chalked up a lengthy string of division titles under Irsay and claimed the first Super Bowl victory for Indianapolis in 2007 when they beat the Chicago Bears 29-17. They returned to the Super Bowl in 2010 but lost to the New Orleans Saints. The Irsay NFL dynasty dates back to 1972 when Robert, who made his fortune as a heating and air-conditioning contractor, acquired the Los Angeles Rams for $12 million then immediately traded franchises with then-Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. The younger Irsay grew up around the Colts and worked his way up in the organization from on-field ball boy and ticket office clerk to ultimately becoming general manager when his father relocated the team to Indianapolis. By the time he assumed ownership of the team as chairman and chief executive officer at 37 he was the youngest franchise owner in NFL history. The following year the Colts acquired quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft and went on to become one of the league's most dominant teams of the 2000s. "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 on social media. "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." An avid fan of rock 'n roll music, Irsay amassed a multi-million dollar collection of music and sports memorabilia, including Kurt Cobain's 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, for which he paid nearly $5 million, and a Jackie Robinson home run bat. His final public message to fans was a note of support to the Colts' NBA counterparts, the Indiana Pacers, who were facing the New York Knicks on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. "Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!" Irsay wrote on X, hours before his death was reported.
Indianapolis Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
'This hurts my soul': Indianapolis Colts players, coaches react to team owner Jim Irsay's death
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died Wednesday at age 65. He had been part of the team since his teenage years and took over the team after his father, Robert Irsay, died in 1997. In Jim Irsay's tenure, the Colts won a Super Bowl and played in another; Lucas Oil Stadium was built; and Indianapolis hosted a Super Bowl. He regularly supported philanthropic causes and was a pop culture aficionado who shared his passion with the city.
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.
