Indianapolis —
Jim Irsay, the longtime owner and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Colts, passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday night, according to a statement released by the team. He was 65.
A figure who had loomed large in professional football for more than half a century, Irsay’s death marks the end of an era not only for the Colts but for the National Football League as a whole. While no official cause of death was given, Irsay had publicly dealt with multiple health issues in recent years, including a serious respiratory illness that had limited his public appearances.
Born June 13, 1959, Irsay grew up surrounded by the game. His father, Robert Irsay, bought the Baltimore Colts in 1972, moving the franchise to Indianapolis a decade later. The younger Irsay was thrust into the family business at an early age. By 24, he was the youngest general manager in the NFL. He officially took the reins of the franchise upon his father’s death in 1997.
Irsay would spend the next 28 years guiding the Colts through their most successful period in franchise history.
Under his leadership, the Colts built one of the most consistent and competitive teams of the 2000s. Behind the arm of Peyton Manning, the vision of head coach Tony Dungy, and the front-office steadiness that Irsay championed, Indianapolis reached the pinnacle of professional football with a victory in Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
“We lost more than an owner today,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. “Jim was family. He believed in me from day one, and he believed in people. This is a heartbreaking day.”
Irsay was known around league circles for his passionate support of his players, his emotional candor, and his flair for the unconventional. Off the field, he was a patron of the arts, an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, and a man unafraid to confront his own struggles with addiction in the public eye.
In recent years, Irsay spearheaded the “Kicking the Stigma” campaign—a Colts-backed initiative aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The campaign gained traction both locally and nationally, earning praise from mental health professionals and sports figures alike.
Despite his public struggles, Irsay remained committed to growing not only the Colts brand but the human side of football as well.
“Jim’s legacy will be measured not just in wins and championships,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, “but in the lives he touched and the barriers he broke down in service of something bigger than the game.”
He is survived by his three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson. Each has played an active role in the franchise in recent years, with Carlie serving as vice chair and assumed to be next in line for the stewardship of the organization.
The Colts have not yet announced any plans for a memorial or funeral service.
In the often hard-edged world of professional sports, Jim Irsay brought something rare: humanity. For all his eccentricities, he was, by every measure, a steward of the game and a voice for compassion. His loss will be felt not just in the hallways of Lucas Oil Stadium, but across every corner of the league.
