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The world of sport was shaken by the death of the legendary owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, Wednesday.
The news struck especially for many of the former players of the Irsay Colts, including the member of the Fame Hall of Professional Football Peyton Manning.
Manning, who played his first 13 seasons for the Colts and helped them win the Super Bowl in the 2006 season, shared his respect for Irsay at an Instagram post on Wednesday night.
“I am disconsolate when listening about the death of Jim Irsay. It was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my beginning in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy were unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not forget. My thoughts and the prayers are with their relatives and all in the community of Colts.
Many of Manning Indianapolis teammates also expressed their condolences.
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The Indianapolis Colts Campo Marshal, Peyton Manning, #10, calls the scrimmage line during a AFC Commodines game in the NFL football playoffs against New York Jets in Indianapolis. (AP)
The former Colts player and current ESPN presenter, Pat Mcafee, shared a long history in an X post on Wednesday, detailing his experience with Irsay throughout the station’s career.
“The first time he and I really had an extended summons were in the training camp after the blockade in 2011. The players and the main office were not allowed to communicate among us during the blockade, but Jim followed me on Twitter throughout the CBA negotiations, his first day in the training camp, immediately after the block end dismiss the questions about Twitter. Mcafee wrote.
Mcafee even accredited Irsay for helping the bettor to succeed in his career after the NFL.
“When I decided to retire … He and I had a 2.5-hour conversation in his office. He was sitting on his desk … hitting the S — out of his added steam.
“Jim has done everything possible to help me succeed … I would join our program every time I asked, regardless of where I was in the world … I would send me motivating messages when I listened to that I was going to something … articles would be forwarded that I had found that I thought I should read.”
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Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, speaks with the Fanters of Induction of Reggie Wayne in the Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty images)
The legendary NFL kicker, Adam Viniatieri, expressed his condolences to Irsay in an X position. Viniatieri consolidated his legacy by helping the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls of 2001-2005, often defeating the Colts on the road. However, when Irsay’s team signed the kicking in 2006, it was immidially helped to change the fortune of both teams, since Viniatieri kicked the winning field goal against the Patriots in the AFC championship game of that year to send the Colts to the Super Bowl.
“I am disconsolate when I heard about the death of Jim Irsay. He was more than an owner, he as a man of the people and his generosity was not the same. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have played under his leadership and his impact on my life. Rest in peace, Jim,” Viniatieri wrote.
The former Colts star receiver, Ty Hilton, who played for the Irsay team since 2012-2021, doing four Pro Bowls, shared his love for Irsay in an X post on Wednesday night.
“Please, don’t ask me if I’m fine. Because I’m not. Thank you very much Mr.irsay. I will always keep our talks near my heart. I love you! Rip Mr.irsay,” Hilton wrote.
Several other current and previous athletes also respected the owner on social networks, including Robert Griffin III and the son of the former open receiver of the Marvin Harrison Colts, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Irsay’s father He bought the team In 1972, when they still played in Baltimore, for $ 12 million and transferred to the team in 1984. Irsay was the general manager of the team from 1982 to 1996 and became the youngest owner of the NFL at 37, shortly after the death of his father in 1997.
Irsay had several health problems over the years and fought against drug addiction and alcohol, once admitting that he had been in rehabilitation “at least 15 times.”
The colts announced in January 2024 that Irsay was being treated by a “serious respiratory disease.” That February, he published in X that was “In the cast.”
The field marshal of the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning, #18, on the left, and the owner Jim Isay are victorious after beating New York’s jets in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on January 24, 2010. (TO TIELMANS /SPORTS Illustrated /Getty Images)
“It’s a long path and you have to be patient. The good news is that everything is going well,” a hospitalized Irsay He said that march After he underwent a procedure in his right leg.
Irsay said at that time that he had undergone “26 surgeries in the last seven years.”
During his term executing the daily operations of the organization, Irsay won 258 games, the fourth one in the NFL in that period. He also won 10 division titles, it was 1-1 in Super Bowls and reached the playoffs 18 times.
Three daughters and 10 grandchildren survive. He and his ex -wife divorced in 2013.
