Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away on Wednesday afternoon. He was 65. “We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon,” the Colts said in a statement. “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,” it added. pic.twitter.com/TZg4kMpdAj — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025 Per Yahoo Sports: Irsay took over the Colts officially in 1997, when he inherited them from his father. He was 37 at the time, though he first started as an executive with the franchise in 1984 when his dad, Robert Irsay, still owned the team. Robert first acquired the franchise in 1972 for about $12 million in a deal that essentially swapped his ownership of the Los Angeles Rams. He relocated the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis the same year that Jim started working there. The Colts had several great runs under Irsay’s watch, most notably during the 2006 campaign when quarterback Peyton Manning and head coach Tony Dungy led them to a Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears. That was the team’s first Super Bowl win since 1970. The Colts made it back to the Super Bowl three seasons later before falling to the New Orleans Saints in that contest. Irsay also oversaw the transition into Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts moved in 2008. That stadium has become a staple in sports, holding events like the Super Bowl, the Big Ten football championship game, Final Fours and the NFL scouting combine. Breaking: Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died Wednesday at the age of 65, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/UwKiXKNbfR — ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2025 WATCH: An absolute legend RIP Jim Irsaypic.twitter.com/U3WvCSNTXe — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 21, 2025 ESPN noted: Irsay is survived by his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson; his ex-wife and his daughters’ mother, Meg Coyle; and 10 grandchildren. Irsay-Gordon, his eldest daughter, is seen as the most involved in team operations and took her father’s place during his NFL suspension in 2014 after his DWI arrest. “We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today. Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts’ players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. … On behalf of the entire NFL, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Jim’s daughters and their families, and to his many friends throughout the NFL.” Irsay’s health came under scrutiny when he was hospitalized after first responders found him unresponsive in his bedroom in December 2023, with police characterizing the incident in a report as a suspected overdose. The next month, after Irsay was not seen publicly for multiple weeks, the Colts said in a statement that he was being treated for a “severe respiratory illness.” Irsay had made a few public appearances in the year since those incidents, but he had not been seen much lately. He did not attend the NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, in March nor the league meeting in Eagan, Minnesota, this week, and he was not believed to be present during last month’s NFL draft.