“I know that I got to share that moment with Jim… But my memory of him was something that happened away from the football field,” Jim Nantz told Rich Eisen as Rich asked him to share his memories of handing over the Lombardi to Jim Irsay 18 years back. He reminisced, “The one Super Bowl that the Indianapolis Colts won in the rain in Miami that night… The man who handed the trophy to Jim Irsay, that’s you right there in the rain on that night. I was wondering your recollections of this moment, Jim.” But Nantz still remembers the flowers.
Eight months after losing his father in 2006, grief lingered like an unwelcome shadow. Then a package arrived. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay had sent a bouquet with a note. No cameras, no fanfare—just kindness. “It meant a lot to me to think back to the people who reached out. And it was an amazing list of people,” Nantz recalled, his voice softening. “But I just wanted to say that Jim Isray not only reached out to me, he sent the most beautiful flowers and a lovely note.” That was heartwarming.
Seventeen years later, Nantz stood in a Nashville recording booth. The Colts had asked him to film a private tribute video for an internal event. He agreed instantly. “I told them how I always have a special place for the Colts and Jim Irsay because of what he did when my father passed,” he said. Hours after sharing the story, Jim Irsay was gone.
Jim Irsay, the Colts’ longtime owner and CEO, died peacefully in his sleep on May 21 at age 65. The team confirmed his passing, highlighting his “generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family.” But for many, like Nantz, Irsay’s legacy lives in quieter moments—the ones that never trended online.
“He was, I think, misunderstood by a lot of people,” Nantz admitted. “There was a whole lot there that the world did not really get a chance to know about. Prideful man who had his battles and conquered his battles.” Irsay battled addiction and health struggles publicly, yet his private acts often spoke louder. From funding mental health initiatives to mentoring players, he leaned into second chances.
The Colts’ “Kicking the Stigma” campaign, launched under Irsay, raised $31 million for mental health. Former players credit him for personal calls during their darkest hours. Yet his final public message? A tweet cheering Indianapolis’ NBA team: “Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!” But there’s more in his legacy.
Jim Irsay: a steward of the game
Irsay’s fingerprints are everywhere in the NFL. At 24, he became the league’s youngest GM. By 37, he owned the Colts, steering them to a Super Bowl XLI win. “I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched,” said Peyton Manning. “His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten.” That’s now etched forever in history.
Irsay’s obsessions—collecting rock memorabilia, jamming onstage with legends—masked a deeper intent. And his traveling museum, featuring Ali’s gloves and Dylan’s guitar, wasn’t about ego. It’s about sharing joy. But family anchored him. Daughters Carlie, Casey, and Kalen, now co-owners, grew up shadowing him at training camps.
Image Credits: X/@jimirsay
When CBS aired Rory McIlroy’s Masters win this year, they let silence amplify the emotion. No commentary—just raw triumph. Irsay’s life mirrored that philosophy. His loudest statements weren’t speeches but gestures: a note, a donation, a late-night call. Nantz’s tribute video, recorded days before Irsay’s death, now feels prophetic.
“It was so fresh to be in a sound stage one day telling them, ‘Hey, your owner Jim did this for me years ago. When you guys ever want something like this, I volunteer,’” he said. “And the next day he’s gone.” The clip remains private, a fitting echo of Irsay’s unpretentious grace. Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The language of friendship is not words, but meanings.” Jim Irsay’s life resonated with both. His flowers still bloom in memories. His silence still speaks.
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