What Caused Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay’s Death at 65?

End of Jim Irsay Era at Colts after 28 years.

What Caused Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay’s Death at 65?

Jim Irsay (Image via IMAGO)

The influential Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday at the age of 65. The NFL world is in mourning.

A post from the Colts’ X account caught everyone’s attention late afternoon. Jim Irsay, who took over as the team’s owner in 1997, sadly passed away.

We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed.

Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward released a statement

Irsay left behind three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson. Carlie is the most involved in the Colts organization. She stepped in as her father’s stand-in after he was arrested on DUI charges in 2014.

How did Jim Irsay die?

The Colts did not release any details about Jim Irsay’s death, but he suffered from severe health issues that included respiratory illness. He was a frequent visitor to the hospital, and his appointments with the doctors had increased in the last few years.

What Caused Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay's Death at 65
Jim Irsay (Image via IMAGO)

In 2024, the Colts sent out a tweet revealing that Irsay was found in his bed unresponsive due to a drug overdose. It reached the point of Code Blue, and the doctor managed to bring him back from the brink of death.

However, Irsay later clarified that it wasn’t a drug overdose.

I don’t know why when you have your name in the paper in the past, people throw that out there quickly. I don’t pay attention to it all that much, but I don’t think it’s fair.

Later, a Colts spokesperson told ESPN’s Adam Schefter about Irsay’s severe respiratory issues after he didn’t attend several games last year.

Jim Irsay is currently being treated for a severe respiratory illness. While this unfortunately means he won’t be able to perform with his band this week in Los Angeles, he is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. We’ll have no additional information at this time, and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers.

Adam Schefter had tweeted

When and how did Jim Irsay become the owner of the Indianapolis Colts?

Jim Irsay was the son of the late Robert Irsay, who bought the Baltimore Colts in 1972 for $12 million. Irsay Jr. took over as the franchise’s vice president and general manager after they relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984.

Like any other franchise owner, Jim Irsay dreamed of making the Colts the best team in the NFL. He drafted Peyton Manning—widely considered the best Colts player in their history. Manning led the team to a Super Bowl win, but the emergence of Tom Brady restricted the Colts from winning their second.

During his tenure as the head coach, Irsay experienced both highs and lows. He released Manning in 2014 and reportedly was in tears. The police arrested him later in the year for driving under the influence with oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam in his system. NFL imposed several sanctions on Irsay, and he faced severe public scrutiny.

He would go on to deny those claims after ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called Irsay out for not managing the Colts the right way.

The Colts are entering a new era of football. While there’s no news about who will succeed Jim Irsay as the Colts’ new owner, it is safe to assume the franchise will remain in the family.

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