Colts Owner Jim Irsay Died Peacefully In His Sleep On Wednesday Afternoon

Sad news out of the NFL. Colts owner Jim Irsay died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon. He was 65 years old. Irsay joined the organization in 1984 when he was hired as vice president and general manager. At years old, he became the youngest VP in NFL history. Then in 1997, Irsay took over as owner, taking sole control of the club. At 37 years old, he became the youngest owner in league history. during his time in Indianapolis.

The Colts won their and only Super Bowl title during the 2006 season. Jim Irsay was 65 old. And for more, NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Jonathan, how will Jim Irsay be remembered across the NFL for his time as a GM and an owner? Certainly one of the more interesting figures in ownership history.

You know, when I would go to league meetings and and he was there and he had not been at league meetings uh probably the last year plus or so, but always great for a quote. Always great to share his thoughts and ideas about anything, whether it be a controversial topic that other nfl owners may fake like they were on a phone call walking out a door, whether it was something about his cult.

Whether it was something about the game of football and moving the game forward he was always ready to talk always ready to be available um you know this is a man who really knew ball right his dad owned the baltimore colts they move to indianapolis he becomes general manager and he truly understood football and i’ve talked with many uh players coaches executives who have worked with or around Jim Irsay who have said that to me over the years.

And really, so much great success came his way once took over full control as owner, and then obviously drafting Peyton Manning in the years of those fantastic Colts teams in the 2000s, those amazing rivalries with.

The New England Patriots, and then continuing on to having the great fortune to draft Andrew Luck right after Peyton Manning, and obviously not being able to secure a Super Bowl or the playoff success that we all had thought could happen, but he really was a major part in building up Indianapolis into what is today one of the greatest convention cities in all of America.

You want to host a major event? I mean, 20 years ago, Indianapolis was not on anyone’s radar to host a major event, but with the success of the Colts and then building Lucas Oil Stadium and then hosting a Super Bowl, doing all of those things on a first class Jim Irsay very much was a huge part of changing the entire future of a city and certainly the future of an organization. Certainly the Colts organization sending their well wishes to his family.

Colts Owner Jim Irsay Died Peacefully

When you look ahead for the Indianapolis Colts in a time of heartbreak here, what are the conversations within the organization about who takes over the team the immediate future? Well, I would have to assume that Carly Ursae Gordon, his eldest daughter, he has three daughters, the oldest of those three, she has really been at the helm of a lot of team operations for the last several years.

She has represented the team almost solely at these league meetings. When we didn’t see Jim Ursae, we would see Carly Ursae Gordon. She also has been on the sidelines at a number of home and away games. You can see her most Colts games actually with a headset on, something that you really don’t see at any of the other 31 organizations.

So she has been incredibly involved. Also, you know, Jim Irsay has been in poor health for the last few years. And so I would have to imagine that the Colts organization, his family, everyone involved has prepared for something like this. hoping that it would not happen at this sort of age, at this time, just 65 years old, but of course, understanding that it could happen. So I would imagine that there has been plenty of estate planning that has been done.

And again, Carly Ursae Gordon has been at these meetings, is on the sideline, is at practice, quite literally, incredibly involved with this organization. So I would have to believe that this team would be staying in the Ursae family and that she would be at the helm of that. Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones .

And the Colts released a statement saying, quote, we are devastated to announce our beloved owner and CEO Jim Ursae passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. 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, end quote. Jim Irsay was 65 years old.