Colts Owner Jim Irsay Dies at 65

‘Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere,’ the Colts said in a statement.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks during a Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor induction ceremony during halftime of a game against the Washington Commanders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Oct. 30, 2022. Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away on Wednesday. He was 65 years old.

Irsay inherited the Colts from his father, Robert, in 1997. Under his ownership, the Colts went to two Super Bowls, winning one, and had a consistent record of success.

“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon,” the Colts said in a statement on the team’s website.

“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,” the statement said.

“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,” it said.

“Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country... 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 was born on June 13, 1959, the son of businessman Robert Irsay and his wife Harriet. Robert Irsay was a wealthy Chicago heating and air conditioning magnate. He acquired the then-Baltimore Colts in 1972, when he purchased the Los Angeles Rams from the estate of Dan Reeves for $19 million, and then traded franchises with Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. Rosenbloom took full control of the Rams, while Irsay took a 51 percent majority share of the Colts, with Willard “Bud” Keland of Racine, taking the remaining 49 percent. Both transactions happened on the same day

Jim Irsay was 13 years old when his father acquired the Colts. In his youth, he worked as a ball boy and answered phones in the Colts’ ticket office. He played college football briefly at Southern Methodist University and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. He returned to the organization after college, holding several jobs before becoming vice president and general manager at just 24 years old in 1984.

At that time, the Colts had been in a protracted battle with the city of Baltimore over a potential move. The situation got so bad that the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation giving the city the right to seize the team’s property by eminent domain. Irsay moved the entire team to Indianapolis in the dead of night on March 29, 1984.

Robert Irsay suffered a stroke in 1995, leaving his son to take over management of the organization. After his father died in 1997, Irsay took over the team as owner at just 37 years old.

In 1998, Irsay’s Colts drafted Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Manning played 13 seasons with the Colts, leading the team to a Super Bowl win in the 2006 season and an appearance in Super Bowl XLV in the 2009 season.

Since he took over the team as owner, the Colts have sent five team members to the NFL Hall of Fame: Manning, running backs Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, head coach Tony Dungy, and general manager and team President Bill Polian.

Irsay had recently struggled with health issues. He was treated for a “severe respiratory illness“ in January 2024, and revealed after an operation on his leg in March of that year that he had undergone 26 surgeries in seven years.

Tributes poured in from across the NFL and the Indiana community.

“We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today,” commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community,” Goodell said. “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.”

Peyton Manning, ESPN host and former Colts punter Pat McAfee, longtime kicker Adam Vinatieri, Indiana Senator Todd Young, Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Gov. Mike Braun were some of the names who posted tributes on social media.