NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Nashville, Tenn. – The Colts of Indianapolis, and the state of Indiana as a whole, lost one of their key taxpayers in the owner Jim Irsay last month after fighting health problems.
Dallas Clark, who played nine seasons with the Colts and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2006, was one of the many current players, executives and coaches who attended Irsay’s funeral.
While everyone remains in mourning, Clark said he really understood what Irsay meant for the colts and the football game after learning more than he could never among his teammates.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
Dallas Clark is included in the Ring of Honor during a game against the Miami Dolphins in Lucas Oil Stadium. (IndiStar USA Today Network through IMAGN images)
“At his funeral, only the things I learned about him is crazy,” Clark told Pak Gazette Digital while attending the university of the wing closed once again as one of the key legends between the group of more than 80 participants. “On being the youngest general manager, and everything made sense. This man has lived this football game every day of his life, and we are very honored to represent him and his family. What a great loss.”
Clark recalled the moment he was recruited by the Colts, when General Manager Bill Polian and the main office took the star of Iowa 23 in general in 2003. While he was only trying to cause a good impression on his new NFL team, Clark could also see the type of owner Irsay.
“I didn’t understand it at the beginning, as,” I don’t know why you need me. You’re crazy, “Clark said about being recruited by Indianapolis. “I remember putting in that group the first time and I thought: ‘This is going to be interesting.’
Colts Gran Reggie Wayne fights tears while remembering the late owner Jim Irsay: “He had the biggest heart”
“But being close [Irsay]Seeing the impact it had on the city. He really loved his players and took care of us, and we weren’t just an investment, we weren’t just a secondary concert. He lived the soccer of the colts. “
Irsay took possession of the colts in 1995 after a legal battle after the death of his father. Before that, Irsay was the general manager of the team from 1982 to 1996 and became the youngest owner of the NFL at 37.
Since then, the colts have had a massive success with Peyton Manning as their quartback, but they have been changing since Manning left the team and Andrew Luck withdrew abruptly.
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)
In addition to worrying about his foals, Clark knew how much Irsay meant for the community, and it was not a great exhibition every time he did.
“It was the epitome of what to return, how truly affectionate, really hugging the state of Indiana, the entire nation of the colts, the organization,” said Clark. “I hope that all the owners have learned something of him, about him, and how you handle yourself and how you are a true owner of representing your team. The power he would have and the impact he would do: so many things he did was under the radar. That is the beautiful thing about his: he was not trying to put himself in the center of attention or something. He was always trying to find an impact.”
While Clark is sad because “Mr. Irsay” will no longer be in Lucas Oil Stadium in Gamedays, he is excited to see how his three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, honor their father and direct the team in their own way.
The owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, on the right, gives Dallas Clark withdrawn a colts’ shirts at the Football Center of the Indianapolis Indian Agriculture Office. (TMB/ICON SMI/CORBIS/ICON SPORTSWIRE through Getty Images)
“I know that the girls are going to do a phenomenal job to honor him and maintain their strong legacy in the front of their direction, but they also do it and find ways to make it their own and change things for the good,” Clark said.
“The impact it had on so many people, this will be difficult. So happy that they will honor him the first week, they put it in the honor ring, and it will be a special day.”
