Indianapolis Colts' music-loving owner Jim Irsay dies at age 65

Michael Marot · The Associated Press

· Posted: May 21, 2025 8:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Colts' proprietor who leveraged the popularity of Peyton Manning into a caller stadium and a Super Bowl title, died Wednesday astatine property 65.

Pete Ward, Irsay's longtime right-hand antheral and the teams main operating officer, made the announcement successful a connection from the team. He said Irsay died peacefully successful his sleep.

"Jim's dedication and passionateness for the Indianapolis Colts successful summation to his generosity, committedness to the community, and astir importantly, his emotion for his household were unsurpassed," Ward said. "Our deepest sympathies spell to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his full household arsenic we grieve with them."

Irsay had a profound interaction connected the franchise.

With Hall of Fame wide manager Bill Polian, Hall of Fame manager Tony Dungy and Manning, Irsay helped crook the Colts from a laughingstock into a perennial rubric contender.

But Irsay had battled wellness problems successful caller years and became little disposable pursuing a autumn astatine his home. Police officers from Carmel, Indiana, a bluish suburb of Indy, responded to a 911 telephone from Irsay's location Dec. 8. According to the constabulary report, the officers recovered Irsay breathing but unresponsive and with a bluish tegument tone.

Ward, the study said, told officers helium was disquieted Irsay was suffering from congestive bosom nonaccomplishment and that Irsay's caregiver had said Irsay's oxygen level was low, his breathing was laboured and helium was "mostly" unconscious.

A period later, helium was diagnosed with a respiratory illness.

During his yearly grooming campy quality league past summer, Irsay told reporters helium was continuing to rehab from 2 consequent surgeries — though helium remained seated successful his play cart. Irsay did not talk during the caller NFL draught arsenic helium typically did.

He had besides battled addictions to intoxicant and painkillers.

Irsay began his shot beingness arsenic a shot lad aft his precocious father, Robert, acquired the squad successful a commercialized with the precocious Carroll Rosenbloom, who took implicit the Los Angeles Rams. The younger Irsay past worked his mode up, becoming the youngest wide manager successful NFL past astatine property 24. He succeeded his begetter arsenic proprietor successful aboriginal 1997.

He besides collected guitars, befriended musicians and often recovered inspiration successful stone 'n' rotation lyrics.