Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65

The Colts reported on Wednesday that team owner and CEO Jim Irsay had died in his sleep earlier in the day. Irsay was 65 years old at the time of his death and is survived by his three daughters.

Irsay started his employment with the Colts when the franchise was still in Baltimore, but his history with the team reaches back a bit further. When he was 12 years old, Irsay’s father, Robert Irsay, became the owner of the Colts. The elder Irsay had originally purchased the Rams for $12MM but made the move to swap franchises, tax-free, with then-Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom, who had been desiring an exit from Baltimore due to stadium issues and disagreements with city officials.

With his father in charge, the younger Irsay spent his free time helping the team as a ball boy or by answering phones in the ticket office. Once he graduated from SMU in 1982, he immediately joined his father’s staff in an official capacity, getting oriented in all aspects of football operations and administrative work. In 1983, he joined the personnel department, breaking down film and scouting college prospects. Just a year later, after the team moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis, he became the youngest general manager in NFL history at 24 years old, in addition to being named vice president of the team, as well.

Irsay held that role for 11 years, with the team winning one division title and making three playoff appearances during his tenure as GM. When his father suffered a stroke, Irsay’s title changed to senior executive vice president, general manager, and chief operating officer as he took over operations for his father. After his father died two years later, Irsay became the youngest NFL team owner in league history at 37 years old, following a legal battle for ownership with his stepmother. From the day Irsay took over to now, the Colts have the sixth-most wins in the NFL while also winning 10 division titles, making the playoffs 18 times, making two Super Bowl appearances, and winning one Lombardi Trophy.

Irsay’s life did not come without its strife, though. In addition to his father, Irsay joins his brother, Thomas Irsay, and sister, Roberta Irsay, in death. Roberta died in a car accident when Irsay was only 12 years old. Thomas died just two years after their father passed away. Irsay, himself, suffered from an addiction to painkillers, which led to an arrest and a six-game suspension.

Before his death, Irsay’s brother suffered from mental illness. This drove Irsay to create Kicking The Stigma, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about mental health disorders and removing the shame and stigma often associated with such conditions. He also donated $3M to Indiana University for a research institute that would study mental health and the associated stigmas. That charity also extended beyond his family, as Irsay hosted galas and donated millions to Indiana University’s cancer research in support of his team’s former head coach Chuck Pagano.

With his passing, the team’s ownership is likely to fall to his children in the same way that he received it. His eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, currently serves as vice chair and co-owner of the franchise. She also ran day-to-day operations while Irsay was in rehab following his arrest. Irsay-Gordon has been with the team for 21 years, getting promoted to vice president in 2008 before being named to her current role.

Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, Irsay’s other daughters, also serve as vice chairs and co-owners. Foyt has been with the team since 2007, has a degree in sports marketing, and worked for the NFL as part of the team that helped bring the league to London. Jackson joined the team in 2010 as vice president and has been leading most of her father’s mental health initiatives. The three Irsay daughters have been labeled for some time as “the next generation of Colts ownership.”