Peyton Manning issues statement reacting to Jim Irsay's death

Irsay, who took over as principal owner, CEO and chairman of the Colts in 1997, made Manning the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. The two enjoyed a very successful partnership with each other during Manning’s time in Indianapolis from 1998-2011. That included eight division titles, 11 playoff berths and two trips to the Super Bowl (including a win in Super Bowl XLI during the 2006 NFL season).

Manning would also blossom individually under Irsay’s tutelage. During his time as a Colt, Manning won four NFL MVP Awards, made eight All-Pro teams, earned 11 Pro Bowl nods and set an all-time record with 49 touchdown passes in the 2004 season (which would later be broken by Tom Brady with 50 for the New England Patriots in 2007 before being reclaimed by Manning with 55 in 2013 as a member of the Denver Broncos).

Now 49, Manning did have a bitter split with the Colts after openly criticizing various moves that Irsay and the Indianapolis front office had made at the time. Irsay was also later accused of taking cheap shots at Manning in the media.

But the two men were ultimately able to patch up their differences, and Manning was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor in 2017 (also getting his No. 18 jersey retired by the team). Now that Irsay has died, Manning has nothing but fond memories about the time that they spent with one another.