Chiefs boss mourns Jim Irsay with touching nod to Colts legacy

The National Football League felt a deep loss this week with the passing of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

On Thursday, Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt issued a heartfelt statement following the news of Irsay's death. 

Hunt described Irsay as “a determined leader, a generous philanthropist, and at heart, a passionate football fan", and he recognized his four-plus decades of contributions to the NFL and the greater Indianapolis community.

"My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Irsay. Jim's career in the National Football League spanned more than forty years, and in that time he became a trusted voice on league matters and a fixture of the local community in Indianapolis. He was a determined leader, a generous philanthropist, and at heart, a passionate football fan.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Irsay family and the entire Indianapolis Colts organization."

For both Hunt and Irsay, their positions atop the leadership structure of two the NFL's franchises are an extension of the important work of their fathers within the sport of football. For Hunt, it's the furthering of the work of NFL legend Lamar Hunt, whose contributions to the game are arguably unmatched. Irsay's father, Robert Irsay, owned the Colts franchise (both in Baltimore and Indianapolis) from 1972 until his death in 1997.

Under Jim Irsay’s leadership, the Colts became one of the league’s more successful franchises, winning Super Bowl XLI in 2007 and making 18 playoff appearances. He was also known for his philanthropic endeavors, many of which centered around advocacy for and awareness of mental health issues. His work under the banner of Kicking The Stigma has been a major part of that.

Irsay was 65 years old when he passed away.