In the NFL, a Hail Mary is more than a desperate pass—it’s a leap of faith, a moment where legacy and loyalty collide. Jim Nantz, the velvet-voiced maestro of CBS Sports, just threw one of the most poignant passes of his career—not on-air, but in a Nashville sound booth. When the Indianapolis Colts called him days after owner Jim Irsay’s passing, Nantz didn’t hesitate.

“It was asked at the beginning of the week if I could run into a sound studio… lay something down, just an internal video for the Colts,” he shared. No contracts, no cameras, no fanfare. Just a man, a microphone, and a debt of gratitude.

“But the fact that it came from the Colts and all these years later, 17 years later, I remember that act of kindness from Jim. That was an easy one.” Nantz said, his voice softening like twilight over Lucas Oil Stadium.

Seventeen years earlier, when Nantz’s father lost his battle with Alzheimer’s, Irsay—often painted as the NFL’s enigmatic ‘rockstar’ owner—sent a handwritten note so achingly sincere it stuck like glue to Nantz’s soul.

Fast forward to Tuesday morning: Nantz, headphones on, staring into a lens, delivering a two-minute tribute for a team mourning its north star. “When I got into the sound stage… I told them how I always have a special place for the Colts and Jim Irsay because of what he did when my father passed.” Twenty-four hours later, Irsay was gone.

The Nantz symphony of second chances

If the NFL is a tapestry of larger-than-life characters, Irsay was its most vibrant thread—a man who collected guitars like touchdowns and championed mental health before it was a hashtag. “He was, I think, misunderstood by a lot of people,” Nantz reflected, “but his passion for his team, his community, his family… he was a loyal man to all the above.”

Irsay’s franchise wasn’t just a business; it was a family heirloom. He’d risen from ball boy to billionaire owner, steering the team through Super Bowl glory and personal storms with equal parts swagger and grace.

Nantz’s tribute video, now a sacred relic in the Colts’ vault, wasn’t just about football. It was a callback to Irsay’s quiet humanity—the kind that inspired Nantz’s signature ‘Hello, friends’ greeting, a phrase born as a coded love letter to his ailing father.

“I’m going to look into that lens. I’m going to say ‘hello friends’ because my name is his name,” Nantz explained, echoing the poignancy of Jed Bartlet: ‘What’s next?’ isn’t just a question; it’s a promise to keep marching.

Meanwhile, the 2025 roster straddles gray hairs and fresh cleats—a testament to Irsay’s blueprint. Battle-tested vets like Jonathan Taylor (1,431 yards last season) mix with rookies itching for their own ‘hello friends’ moment, notably Anthony Richardson, back from injury. It’s a reload, not a rebuild.

As the Colts navigate a schedule bookended by gauntlets (Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers), Nantz’s gesture lingers like the aftershock of a game-winning field goal. In a league often obsessed with wins and stats, this was a reminder: legacy isn’t built on highlights alone.

Irsay may have left the booth, but his symphony? It’s just hitting crescendo.