Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has passed away at the age of 65.
The sad news was first broken by the Colts X account, and a statement was released along with the news. Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025
Irsay had been the owner and CEO of the Colts since 1997 and presided over some of the best teams in the franchise's history. Colts fans took to X to mourn Irsay's death.
Colts fans take to social media to mourn Jim Irsay's death
A statement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the passing of Colts owner Jim Irsay pic.twitter.com/wUP2IP2pSm
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 22, 2025
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement following Irsay's passing, noting all he accomplished during his time with the Colts for the organization and the league as a whole. Irsay was a role model for other owners to emulate.
Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city! 💪❤️
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 21, 2025
Just hours before his passing, Irsay voiced his support for the Indiana Pacers as they set to play in the Eastern Conference Finals. This shows just how committed Irsay was to Indianapolis sports.
If Lucas Oil Stadium is the house that Peyton built, Jim Irsay was the architect. Thank you, Jim, for all you’ve done for our team, our city and our state. https://t.co/Sw1YIs216S
— Lucas Oil Stadium (@LucasOilStadium) May 22, 2025
Peyton Manning might be the first player that comes to mind when thinking about the Colts for NFL fans, but Irsay was an integral figure in the franchise for over two decades.
Jim Irsay was a passionate and outspoken leader who deeply loved football. He helped bring a Super Bowl to Indianapolis and leaves behind a legacy of bold decisions, community impact, and a strong commitment to philanthropy and mental health awareness.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 21, 2025
Gone too soon at age 65. https://t.co/OTIkHq5SEs pic.twitter.com/bPDd9snFwO
It wasn't just football that Irsay brought to Indianapolis. His impact in the community, particularly as a mental health advocate, cannot be ignored. He launched the Kicking the Stigma initiative, hoping to promote getting help for those struggling with mental health issues.
Three things I’ll remember about Jim Irsay from stories that were told to me about him over the years:
— Stephen Andress (@StephenAndress1) May 21, 2025
- He made it a point to give every Colts employee a birthday card with a $100 bill.
- He would randomly give the homeless a wad of cash from time to time in hopes of helping… pic.twitter.com/tiaVbuUM9i
Irsay went out of his way to give back to everyone he could. That should be celebrated and emulated.
Old Jim Irsay tweets are truly one of the best things this site has to offer man.
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) May 21, 2025
RIP to an owner who truly cared deeply about his team and was passionate about his city.
Ultimately, what sticks out to Colts fans about Irsay was how much he cared about the team and Indianapolis as a whole. He might not have made the perfect football decisions, but he was as competitive as it gets among owners, and did eventually win the city the Super Bowl it had desperately coveted.
We send our thoughts to the Irsay family and the Colts family during this sad time.