Longtime Super Bowl-Winning NFL Owner Passes Away

INDIANAPOLIS, IN— A longtime NFL owner has passed away.

Jim Irsay died Wednesday at the age of 65. Irsay was the owner, chairman, and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts from 1997 until his death. The Colts organization issued the following statement:

“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. 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.

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 manger 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 NFL.

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."

A cause of death was not given and the information at this time says that Irsay passed away in his sleep. Irsay had several major surgeries and revealed in an interview with Mike Chappell, who works for FOX 59/CBS 4, that he had undergone 26 surgeries in the past seven years.

Under Irsay’s ownership, the Colts have been an extremely dominant team. NFL fans will remember quarterback Peyton Manning leading the Colts to a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

While Irsay himself is not in the NFL Hall of Fame, many players and coaches that worked for the Colts organization are. Those include former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, former general manager Bill Polian, running backs Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, and Edgerrin James, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, defensive end Dwight Freeney, and of course, Manning.