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 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.