Jim Irsay (Jenna Watson/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has passed away, the team announced on Wednesday.
He was 65 years old.
The Colts announced on Wednesday that the longtime owner of the team di3d in his sleep. He di3d “peacefully” in his sleep at home.
Irsay had several health issues over the years, and battled drug and alcohol addiction, recently being treated for an overdose.
The team released the following statement:
“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon,” it began.
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. Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them.
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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. 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.
Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim’s passions, and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. 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’s father purchased the team in 1972 when they still played in Baltimore for $12 million and moved the team in 1984. Irsay had been the general manager of the team from 1982 to 1996.
Jim Irsay Changed The Colts Around
BLOOMINGTON, MN – AUGUST 9: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks during an NFL special league meeting (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Jim Irsay took sole ownership of the Colts in 1997.
With Irsay at the helm, the Colts claimed several division titles and won a Super Bowl in 2007.
After drafting Peyton Manning, he would go on to 14 Pro Bowls and was a five-time NFL Most Valuable Player and two-time Super Bowl winner.
Things were certainly looking up for Irsay and the Colts with Andrew Luck at the helm, but he would retire early.
Indianapolis Colts Superstar Reveals He’s “Battling” For His Life
Colts helmet (Photo via Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith has opened up on the reason for his abrupt departure from the team last season, revealing he’s been dealing with a challenging mental health battle following a concerning diagnosis.
Smith was a notable absentee for the Colts over their last five games in 2024, but the team did not disclose the nature of his struggles.
While Indianapolis would not be drawn into discussing the player’s status, Smith made the revelation on his own this week, engaging the IndyStar’s Joel Erickson in an interview.
The offensive lineman divulged that he was diagnosed with the obsessive-compulsive disorder subtype religious scrupulosity.
According to the International OCD Foundation, individuals with the disorder have difficulty living a normal life because they are overly concerned that things they do – or even think – might amount to sin or contravention of moral/religious doctrines.
“They may worry about what their thoughts or behavior mean about who they are as a person,” the foundation notes.
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“There’s the actual, real, true, living God,” Smith explained. “And then there’s my OCD god, and the OCD god is this condemning (deity). It’s like every wrong move you make, it’s like smacking the ruler against his hand: ‘Another bad move like that and you’re out of here.‘”
Braden Smith Took Extreme Measures To Regain His Mental Health
Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith (Photo via Imagn Images)
Braden Smith only missed one of the Colts’ 732 offensive snaps in the first 12 games of last season but did not play after the team suffered a 24-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in late November. He did not practice the following week and was listed as “not injury-related – personal matter” on the team’s participation report.
The Colts placed the starting OT on the reserve/non-football illness list for the remainder of the campaign after a 25-24 win over the New England Patriots at the start of December.
Following his diagnosis, he would spend 48 days in a mental health facility after checking in on December 4.
Smith told the outlet he resorted to a plant-derived psychoactive compound called Ibogaine, which is illegal to use in the U.S., and had to travel to Mexico for treatment.
“It legitimately resets your brain,” the seven-year player said. “Imagine your brain as a ski slope, and you create all these grooves, from all these trails that you’re going on, and they keep getting deeper and deeper and deeper. Those are the habits that we create, and over time, like, it’s not going to be possible to create a new trail because that one is so deep. Ibogaine literally will clear off those, like, the receptors in your brain.”
Fortunately, the treatment worked, but he’s continuing therapy.
We wish him and his family the best.
