Robert Irsay would allow the youngest of his three kids, Jim, to hang around the Colts and look around with curiosity. He would befriend players, coaches, and they would even assign the 11-year-old lad some odd jobs just so that he could feel he was helping around. He’d pick up jock straps off the floor. A lot of them. Sometimes, he was also their ballboy. Later, Jim was away for a while, completing his degree in broadcast journalism in 1982, after which he returned to the Colts’ front office. Those were the times when the team experienced a long stretch of bad seasons and Mr. Irsay, the owner, was in the process of relocating the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

After the successful shift despite the everlasting scorn Robert Irsay received from Baltimore fans, he made Jim vice president and general manager. It was a decision partly made to save money, but years down the line, it proved to be a sound one. Jim Irsay soon began learning about the business and joined committees, including the four-person group that ultimately developed the salary cap introduced in 1994. All those experiences helped him take over the team two years later, after his father had a stroke. Robert Irsay passed away in January 1997, and Jim, at 37, became the youngest sole owner of an NFL team.

However, Jim was more than just a high-level executive. He understood the game just like a player. Growing up, he boxed and also played football in high school. That continued at the Southern Methodist University in Texas, but a nasty ankle injury during his freshman year ended things prematurely. But he knew what a good football player looked like. So, months after he took over the Colts, things started to shift. The team drafted Payton Manning in 1998, and together they became an unstoppable force. Those are the years of the Colts I won’t forget. They even won the Super Bowl in the 2006 season. So when Manning got to know that Jim Irsay passed away on Wednesday, at age 65, he was heartbroken.

He took to Instagram and wrote a tribute to Jim. “I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing. He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18”

The official cause of death has not been released.

Jim had achieved stability in the franchise during his time—Something his father dreamed of, but it didn’t last for too long. When their star QB couldn’t play the 2011 season because of his neck injury, the team fell to a 2-14 record. Manning was released, and Jim took a gamble with Andrew Luck from Stanford University.

While running an NFL team is a heavy load, he also had to deal with his health issues. In December 2023, first responders found him unresponsive in his bedroom, and it was suspected to be an overdose, something that shadowed his father’s demons with addiction. However, the following month, he was absent from games for weeks, and the Colts had released a statement, sharing it was due to a respiratory illness.

In 2020, he founded Kicking the Stigma to destigmatize mental health struggles and fund care access, contributing millions to date. His team’s statement echoed that legacy: “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.”

Jim Irsay always made headlines for choosing compassion. He was a good man, with a colorful personality and some flaws. When Andrew Luck retired suddenly at age 29 after an injury, Irsay didn’t force him to repay his signing bonuses—a $24.8 million gesture that spoke volumes about how he valued people over contracts. That moment stuck with me. Upon his passing, NFL personalities and fans couldn’t help by remember his acts of kindness.

NFL players pay tribute to Jim Irsay!

Tom Brady joined in with a simple, powerful message: “❤️🙏🏻 RIP ❤️🙏🏻.”

Jim Irsay is survived by his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson; Also his ex-wife and his daughters’ mother, Meg Coyle; and 10 grandchildren. It is a big loss for the family and also the NFL community. Former Colts WR Reggie Wayne wrote: “This hurts my soul…”

Irsay’s daughters are expected to take over ownership of the team.

WR Marvin Harrison Sr. mentioned: “RIP MR. IRSAY 🙏🏾” James Steven Irsay, known as Jim to those close to him, was born on June 13, 1959, in Lincolnwood, Ill., north of Chicago. His mother, Harriet Pogorzelski, was a homemaker. Jim grew up in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka and pursued sports like football, powerlifting, and marathons. But those activities contributed to some of his health conditions.

In January, fans noticed him getting wheeled out in a chair at an NFL game. Reports stated he was using a StairSteady—a device used for those lacking strength in their legs. He had previously also had surgeries that affected his mobility, and last year, he was recovering from some of them. But his sudden passing was shocking for those he worked with.

WR T.Y. Hilton mentioned, “Please don’t ask me if I’m ok. Cuz I’m not. Thank You Sooo Much Mr.Irsay. I will forever hold our talks close to my heart. Love You! RIP 🥹🥹🥹😢😢”

Then there was 4x Pro Bowler JJ Watt, who wrote, “Terribly sorry to hear this news. Thoughts are with the Irsay family and the entire Indianapolis community.”

Despite only one Super Bowl win in the past 50 years, Irsay’s legacy with the Colts isn’t measured in trophies—it’s measured in the lives he touched. That includes Colts staffers, musicians (Jim collected guitars, befriended musicians, and was inspired by rock ’n’ roll lyrics), mental health advocates, and fans who stood in the nosebleeds and somehow ended up on the field thanks to his random giveaways.

As the NFL moves into a new era, Jim Irsay’s absence will be felt far beyond Indianapolis. He was complicated, candid, and flawed—but more than anything, he was human. And in a league often defined by metrics and margins, that made him unforgettable. The loss is personal. And it will amplify when the season begins.