Jim Irsay, the long-time proprietor of the Indianapolis Colts, has died, the crew launched on Wednesday.
Irsay handed away “peacefully in his sleep this afternoon,” the crew talked about in a protracted message posted on social media, which highlighted his love of the game, crew, metropolis and followers.
The billionaire inherited the Colts from his father, who bought the crew as soon as they’ve been nonetheless primarily based in Baltimore and moved them to Indy … and the group went on to win a Super Bowl in 2007 with the long-lasting Peyton Manning as quarterback.
Irsay — who carried out soccer himself as a walk-on linebacker and studied broadcast journalism at Southern Methodist Faculty — labored his strategy up via the group for two years sooner than taking over as fundamental supervisor in 1984.
He was named proprietor of the Colts after his father’s passing in 1997, becoming one in every of many youngest to hold the place in league historic previous.
Irsay really left his mark — electing for a passionate and expressive technique to his operate in comparison with his fellow league homeowners.
As TMZ Sports activities actions beforehand reported, Irsay suffered a medical scare in December 2023 … which cops categorised on the time as a suspected “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning.”
He later refuted the officers’ report … claiming his scenario was ensuing from a leg harm.
Irsay had been vocal about his struggles with alcohol and prescription tablets so far … claiming he had been to rehab not lower than 15 situations. He used his platform and private journey to convey consciousness to the problem — reportedly donating upwards of $17 million to his initiative, “Kicking the Stigma” … which he launched in 2020 to help these with psychological properly being and dependancy factors.
Irsay was moreover obsessive about music … and had his private band, along with an intensive memorabilia assortment — which he positioned on present for quite a few followers to take pleasure in.
He’s survived by his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, his ex-wife, Meg Coyle, and 10 grandchildren.
He was 65.
RIP
