On Wednesday afternoon, the NFL was hit with some devastating news. At 65, Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Jim Irsay took over as the Colts’ principal owner in 1997. In his tenure, Indianapolis made 16 playoff appearances, won two AFC titles, and one Super Bowl. Players, coaches, and fans mourned the loss of Jim Irasy. He is survived by his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson; his ex-wife and his daughters’ mother, Meg Coyle; and 10 grandchildren.
Long-time Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday
Colts announced the death of their legendary owner Jim Irsay: pic.twitter.com/QPNdkJmJhv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2025
In 1984, Jim Irsay became the youngest GM in the history of the NFL at just 25. When his father died in 1997, Irsay became the principal owner of the Indianapolis Colts. He was the NFL’s youngest owner at the time. Jim Irsay was the definition of an NFL lifer. As a kid, Irsay hung out in the locker room with Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas. That’s where his love for the game grew at an early age, and that never wavered.
Former Colts punter and ESPN media member Pat McAfee shared a touching tribute to Jim Irsay on Wednesday evening. McAfee had this to say.
“The 1st time he and I really had an extended convo was at training camp after the lockout in 2011.. players and front office weren’t allowed to communicate with each other during the lockout but, Jim followed me on Twitter throughout the CBA negotiations.. his first day at training camp, immediately after the lockout ended, he drove his golf cart over to where I was and started firing off questions about Twitter.. He enjoyed the thought of being able to connect with Colts fans all over the world.. he appreciated the opportunity to be able to share some of his thoughts in his own way.. and he absolutely LOVED the idea of being able to give money/experiences/tickets/etc. away to people on Twitter.” – Pat McAfee
Additionally, former Colts head coach and Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy shared his thoughts via social media.
“When I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep it was devastating to me. The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us but I wasn’t ready for this. Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known. He was awesome to me and my family. He was a blessing to his players and staff. But more than that he had a heart for people and for the city of Indianapolis. He loved people and did so many things for others—more things than you could imagine. I miss him already. He was a special man and I couldn’t have worked for a better owner.” – Tony Dungy
Jim Irsay was a beloved figure in the Colts’ organization and the rest of the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indianapolis was unquestioned. Ownership of the team is expected to be transferred to his daughters. In 2012, they were each given an ownership title and have active roles in the organization. His eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is most actively involved with the team operations. We’ll see how the Colts operate heading into the 2025 season.
