Jim Irsay, who grew up around the NFL colts before taking control of the team himself, died on Wednesday at 65, the team announced.
No cause of death has been given. Irsay had fought against health problems in recent years. When he appeared at the Indianapolis colt training camp last summer, it was his first public appearance since the previous season, the Indianapolis star reported, and he told the star that he had recovered after having undergone several operations after falling home.
Irsay was 13 years old when his father, Robert, bought the Baltimore colts in 1972. When the franchise moved to Indianapolis in 1984, the young Irsay was appointed vice-president and managing director; He became his chief of the farm in 1996.
On the death of his father in 1997, Irsay resumed his family affairs as the owner and chief executive officer of the team. His property time ride the arrival of the quarter-Arrière Peyton Manning, who led the colts to a victory in the Super Bowl in 2007.
“Jim’s love and appreciation for the NFL, in addition to its history, its tradition and its principles influenced him to become a game of game throughout his over 50 years in the League,” said the colts in a press release.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened”.
“He spent his life and his career in the National Football League,” said Goodell. “Starting in adolescence as a colt ballboy, he learned each post in the organization before assuming the leadership of the colts about 30 years ago. Jim’s Colts won the Super Bowl, welcomed another and built the Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Beyond football, Irsay was known for his collection of artefacts of pop, historical and musical culture, including guitars played by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Prince; A first edition of Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl”; and the articles used by the presidents. He had also spoken frankly about his history of dependence. In 2023, he told HBO the “real sports” that he had been in detoxification treatment at least 15 times and had once accidentally overdose.
Irsay is survived by the girls, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson.
