Jim Irsay, owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, has died at 65. The announcement came on Wednesday via a statement from the NFL franchise, “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.”
No official cause of death has been confirmed by the Colts. However, Irsay had been facing numerous health issues in recent years.
What health issues had Jim Irsay been battling?
In the months leading to his death, Irsay was grappling with significant health problems. Most notably, he suffered a severe respiratory illness in December 2023 that required hospitalisation.
According to TMZ, police in Carmel, Indiana, found Irsay unresponsive at home, displaying signs of agonal breathing, a weak pulse, and blue discolouration. Officers administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. He responded only slightly before being rushed to hospital.
ESPN reported that the incident was classified as a suspected overdose, though specific substances were not disclosed. Despite this, the Colts later described the incident as a “severe respiratory illness.” Irsay himself denied an overdose, attributing the health scare to a leg injury that had led to a haematoma and required surgery.
These were not isolated events. Irsay had long battled addiction, a struggle he never tried to hide.
How did addiction shape Irsay’s life?
Jim Irsay’s substance dependency was public and prolonged. He admitted to attending rehabilitation centres at least 15 times.
In 2014, he was arrested for driving under the influence. Police found oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam in his system. The incident resulted in a six-game suspension by the NFL and a $500,000 fine.
Even earlier, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he sought treatment and was linked to doctors accused of improperly prescribing medications. In one candid reflection, Irsay said he had “gone code blue,” surviving a near-fatal overdose.
What legacy does Jim Irsay leave behind?
Irsay’s career with the Colts spanned five decades. He began working in the team’s operations as a teenager when his father, Robert Irsay, bought the franchise in 1972. By 24, Jim was the youngest general manager in the league.
In 1997, following a family legal dispute after his father’s death, Jim assumed full control of the Colts. Under his leadership, the team won multiple division titles and, most memorably, clinched the Super Bowl in the 2006 season.
Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward described him as more than an executive, “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.”
Who will lead the Colts now?
Responsibility for the Colts now falls to Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Jim’s eldest daughter. She is expected to assume control of the team’s football operations, as reported by The Indianapolis Star.
Carlie has been with the organisation since 2008, serving as vice president and leading efforts in digital strategy, content, and internal operations. She also briefly led the team during her father’s periods of absence due to health issues.
Her sisters, Kalen Jackson and Casey Foyt, will support her. Kalen, who joined the Colts in 2010, leads the team’s mental health initiative Kicking the Stigma, which has donated over $25 million. Casey, with a background in sports marketing and experience at the NFL’s London office, brings an international dimension to the leadership team.
What role did Jim Irsay’s family play in his later years?
Jim Irsay shared three daughters—Carlie, Casey, and Kalen—with his former wife, Meg Coyle, to whom he was married for 33 years. The two separated in 2013 but remained united in their commitment to their children.
In his final years, Irsay had a close relationship with Michelle Paul, a vegan activist involved in animal rights and wellness advocacy. She reportedly influenced his interest in holistic health and played a supportive role during his health struggles. Though she remained a significant figure in his personal life, the Colts’ official statement did not mention her.
Jim Irsay was a man of contradictions—a straight-talking NFL owner with a rock-n-roll heart, a powerful league figure who battled personal demons. He never shied away from sharing his views, even on controversial topics, and saw himself as a custodian of NFL traditions.
In a 2023 interview with The New York Times, he said, "I’ve been blessed enough for 52 years to witness it and be thankfully young enough to be a 24-year-old general manager and 22-year-old scout. I wish I could live for another 50 years. I’d love to see what the league is 50 years from now."
That wish, sadly, went unfulfilled. But his legacy—as a leader, father, and football lover—remains stitched into the fabric of the Colts and the NFL.
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.
No official cause of death has been confirmed by the Colts. However, Irsay had been facing numerous health issues in recent years.
What health issues had Jim Irsay been battling?
In the months leading to his death, Irsay was grappling with significant health problems. Most notably, he suffered a severe respiratory illness in December 2023 that required hospitalisation.
According to TMZ, police in Carmel, Indiana, found Irsay unresponsive at home, displaying signs of agonal breathing, a weak pulse, and blue discolouration. Officers administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. He responded only slightly before being rushed to hospital.
ESPN reported that the incident was classified as a suspected overdose, though specific substances were not disclosed. Despite this, the Colts later described the incident as a “severe respiratory illness.” Irsay himself denied an overdose, attributing the health scare to a leg injury that had led to a haematoma and required surgery.
These were not isolated events. Irsay had long battled addiction, a struggle he never tried to hide.
How did addiction shape Irsay’s life?
Jim Irsay’s substance dependency was public and prolonged. He admitted to attending rehabilitation centres at least 15 times.
In 2014, he was arrested for driving under the influence. Police found oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam in his system. The incident resulted in a six-game suspension by the NFL and a $500,000 fine.
Even earlier, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he sought treatment and was linked to doctors accused of improperly prescribing medications. In one candid reflection, Irsay said he had “gone code blue,” surviving a near-fatal overdose.
What legacy does Jim Irsay leave behind?
Irsay’s career with the Colts spanned five decades. He began working in the team’s operations as a teenager when his father, Robert Irsay, bought the franchise in 1972. By 24, Jim was the youngest general manager in the league.
In 1997, following a family legal dispute after his father’s death, Jim assumed full control of the Colts. Under his leadership, the team won multiple division titles and, most memorably, clinched the Super Bowl in the 2006 season.
Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward described him as more than an executive, “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.”
Who will lead the Colts now?
Responsibility for the Colts now falls to Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Jim’s eldest daughter. She is expected to assume control of the team’s football operations, as reported by The Indianapolis Star.
Carlie has been with the organisation since 2008, serving as vice president and leading efforts in digital strategy, content, and internal operations. She also briefly led the team during her father’s periods of absence due to health issues.
Her sisters, Kalen Jackson and Casey Foyt, will support her. Kalen, who joined the Colts in 2010, leads the team’s mental health initiative Kicking the Stigma, which has donated over $25 million. Casey, with a background in sports marketing and experience at the NFL’s London office, brings an international dimension to the leadership team.
What role did Jim Irsay’s family play in his later years?
Jim Irsay shared three daughters—Carlie, Casey, and Kalen—with his former wife, Meg Coyle, to whom he was married for 33 years. The two separated in 2013 but remained united in their commitment to their children.
In his final years, Irsay had a close relationship with Michelle Paul, a vegan activist involved in animal rights and wellness advocacy. She reportedly influenced his interest in holistic health and played a supportive role during his health struggles. Though she remained a significant figure in his personal life, the Colts’ official statement did not mention her.
Jim Irsay was a man of contradictions—a straight-talking NFL owner with a rock-n-roll heart, a powerful league figure who battled personal demons. He never shied away from sharing his views, even on controversial topics, and saw himself as a custodian of NFL traditions.
In a 2023 interview with The New York Times, he said, "I’ve been blessed enough for 52 years to witness it and be thankfully young enough to be a 24-year-old general manager and 22-year-old scout. I wish I could live for another 50 years. I’d love to see what the league is 50 years from now."
That wish, sadly, went unfulfilled. But his legacy—as a leader, father, and football lover—remains stitched into the fabric of the Colts and the NFL.
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.
You may also like
Ruben Amorim drops hint on Man Utd transfer plans after missing out on Champions League
James Maddison fires back at Roy Keane with new eight-word jibe after Tottenham Europa League win
SEBI Probing Securities Law Breaches By IndusInd Bank Senior Officials In Accounting Fraud
Farmer discovers £3bn worth of gold buried in his land - but he won't keep a penny
realme announces 3-year licensing collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco F1 team
