“You know how people say the acorn never falls far from the tree?” retired longtime NFL executive Gil Brandt once said. “Well, in this case, the acorn wound up a long, long way away.” These words echoed for the legendary Colts owner Jim Irsay. Why? See, back in the mid-60s, even before the Colts shifted to Baltimore, then-owner and Jim’s dad, Robert, burst out on his players and threatened to fire him. The reason? Because the Colts lost a preseason game in Detroit.
But a 16-year-old Jim stood outside the Colts’ locker room, and quietly apologized to players after his father’s outburst. It was clear that Jim’s temperament was not like his father’s. Since then, many stories have abounded about a kid who wasn’t just trying to avoid the mistakes of his dad, but was trying to make up for it. And yes, he was determined to lead the Colts with empathy and respect.
During his tenure as the team’s owner, Jim would contribute to the Colts community. Whether constantly giving away tickets to his team’s game on ‘X’, or helping his players’ families who were growing through a tough phase, Jim was more than an owner of the Colts. He once discreetly offered $50K to the mother of Brandon Burlsworth (Colts’ former guard), who was killed in an auto accident, and said, “The first thing that players do is to take care of their mothers.”
However, May 21, 2025, marks the end of Jim Irsay’s era as the Colts’ legendary owner peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 65. Ever since the tragic passing of Irsay, the NFL and the Colts community have paid tribute to him. Tony Dungy, the former Colts head coach who led Indy to a Super Bowl victory in 2007, shared a sincere message as he felt devastated after Irsay’s tragic demise.
“When I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep, it was devastating to me,” Dungy wrote. “The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us, but I wasn’t ready for this. Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known. He was awesome to me and my family.”
When I got the news last night that Jim Irsay had passed away in his sleep it was devastating to me. The Bible says in many places that tomorrow is not promised to us but I wasn’t ready for this.
Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known. He was… pic.twitter.com/Gf7qNXCTPD
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) May 22, 2025
“He was a blessing to his players and staff. But more than that, he had a heart for people and for the city of Indianapolis. He loved people and did so many things for others—more things than you could imagine. I miss him already. He was a special man, and I couldn’t have worked for a better owner.” In the late 2000s, Dungy became the first African American head coach to life a Lombardi. And yes, that lone victory came under Irsay’s ownership.
Jim took the reins of the Colts following his dad’s death back in ’97 and remained so until his death at the age of 65. The former HC just shed light on the owner’s vision for Indy and how he created the winning atmosphere for the team. “He wanted us to be good, obviously, but he wanted to connect with the fanbase. He wanted to impact the city, he wanted to win, but do it the right way,” Dungy said.
And that’s what they did. Under the ownership of Irsay, Dungy went 85-27 during his time as the head coach of the Colts. For five consecutive years, he also led his team to AFC South Division titles. “He wanted the team to be successful,” the former HC added. “But more than that, he wanted to do it in Indianapolis.” And just like that, Jim Irsay became one of the most-celebrated owners in the league.
Jim Irsay: From youngest general manager to youngest owner
Jim Irsay became the youngest general manager in the league when he joined the Colts front office at the age of 27 back in ’84. He remained in the position before taking over as the team’s owner in ’97 after Robert Irsay passed away. He was 37 back then. Over a tenure of almost three decades, Irsay led the Colts through significant success.
We’re talking fourteen winning seasons, eighteen playoff appearances, and 10 division titles. And along the way, a Lombardi as well. One of the greatest decisions of his ownership came to light when he drafted Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL draft as their franchise quarterback. And of course, the rest is history. But it’s not just his football mindset that caught everyone’s attention.
Nope. His obsessions and appreciations are beyond football.“He has a love of music, of poetry, and he makes sure that people know that,” Colts’ former center, Jeff Saturday, once said. The man amassed an extensive collection of iconic musical instruments and historical artifacts, including guitars owned by legends like Jerry Garcia, Prince, and Kurt Cobain.
And yes, his collection also featured significant items such as the original manuscript scroll of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road“. But it’s his tenure as the Colts’ owner that describes significant leadership abilities. And on Wednesday, Jim Irsay ended his successful NFL career after he peacefully died in his sleep at the age of 65.
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