Jim Irsay dies: Colts owner's drug overdose revelations resurface; fans worried

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday, the NFL franchise announced

Updated on: May 22, 2025, 05:48:23 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on Wednesday, the NFL franchise announced. He was 65 years old. While the Colts did not reveal Irsay's cause of death, fans posted about his past claims of drug overdose on social media.

Jim Irsay's past admissions about drug overdose have resurfaced (X)

“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, 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,” Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward said in a statement released by the team.

Irsay is survived by his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, his ex-wife and his daughters' mother, Meg Coyle, and 10 grandchildren.

Jim Irsay was vocal about his drug addiction

Irsay had opened up about his struggles with addiction during an interview with Andrea Kremer for HBO's 'Real Sports'. He said that a past drug overdose stopped his breathing and almost killed him.

He told Kremer that he had been in rehab "at least 15 times."

"Oh yeah. One time, I was trying to detox myself, and I mixed multiple drugs that I didn't know anything about. So all of a sudden, I start slurring my words. And then code blue, I stop breathing. And they revive me and the doctor goes, 'Jim, you're one lucky man because I had virtually signed the death certificate.'"

In 2014, the Colts' owner checked into a rehab center after an arrest on charges of driving under the influence and four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. A police report stated that he was in possession of multiple bottles of prescription drugs and more than $29,000 in cash. He failed the sobriety test.

In a 2022 interview with the Associated Press, he said: “My self-will had to be abandoned because my self-will was killing me. The only way I could be helped was to surrender and give way to become teachable and give way to some power greater than me.”

“I know what it’s like to be at hell’s gates. I know what it’s like to feel the bars of hell and be in that darkness."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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