Jim Irsay, longtime owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday at the age of 65.
The NFL team announced his death in an official statement, noting his passion for football, philanthropy, and family.
While the Colts did not disclose the cause of death, fans quickly resurfaced Irsay’s past admissions about his struggles with drug addiction, raising concerns online. Irsay had spoken openly about his history with substance abuse, most notably in a 2023 interview with Andrea Kremer for HBO’s Real Sports. He described a life-threatening overdose where he stopped breathing and was revived in a hospital emergency room.
“I mixed multiple drugs that I didn’t know anything about… I stopped breathing. The doctor said, ‘Jim, you’re one lucky man,’” Irsay revealed in the interview. He also said he had been in rehab “at least 15 times.”
In 2014, Irsay was arrested on DUI and drug possession charges. Police found prescription medications and over $29,000 in cash during a traffic stop. He later entered a rehabilitation program, and in 2022 told the Associated Press that he had to “surrender” to get the help he needed: “My self-will was killing me.”
Jim Irsay’s death has sparked both tributes and renewed discussions about mental health and addiction in professional sports leadership
