Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65

Flashback: Irsay joined the Colts staff in 1982 and became the general manager in 1984 at age 24 when the team moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis. He became the sole owner in 1997.

• "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," the Colts said in a statement posted to the team's social media accounts.
• "Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit."

What they're saying: "I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay's passing. He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL," Peyton Manning shared on Instagram. "His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community."

• "Heartbreaking," former Colts long snapper Matt Overton wrote on X. "His passion for the Colts and the game was always evident. Forever grateful to him and the honor to wear the Horseshoe. God Bless you boss man, the Irsay family and all of Colts Nation."

Between the lines: A cause of death was not shared, but Irsay had health problems for years.

• He battled lifelong substance addiction, a topic he opened up about in an interview with Real Sports on HBO in 2023 where he revealed at least 15 trips to rehab and one overdose in his past.
• He said he was able to overcome his alcohol addiction and hadn't had a drink since 2002. But a painkiller addiction sparked by dozens of surgeries and chronic pain tied to his powerlifting career continued to be a daily fight.
• His struggle became public in 2014 when Irsay was arrested in Carmel for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and suspended for six games.

Zoom in: In his final X post shared around noon Wednesday, Irsay continued to show his love and support for Indy.

• "Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city! 💪❤️," he wrote.

"Jim took the time today to cheer us on — he was more than the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, he was a transformative figure in our city and state, a passionate advocate for the community, and someone whose generosity, vision and spirit touched countless lives," Pacers Sports & Entertainment owner Herb Simon and the Simon family said in a statement.

• "Jim helped shape our city into the sports capital it is today, and his legacy, both on and off the field, will continue to inspire us and generations to come. On behalf of our family, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Irsay family, the Colts organization, fans and all who loved Jim. He will be sorely missed."

Zoom out: Irsay was also known for his philanthropic efforts in the community. The Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay opened in 2015 just east of Lucas Oil Stadium.

• Irsay launched the Kicking The Stigma effort in 2020 to raise awareness for matters related to mental health and fight feelings of shame associated with mental illness.
• Since its establishment, the program has committed $31 million to mental health research and provided $6.4 million in action grants to nonprofits.
• He also had a passion for music, assembling a collection of unique rock 'n' roll memorabilia and creating and leading The Jim Irsay Band.

Justin's thought bubble: I had the chance to see a small portion of the legendary Jim Irsay Collection last weekend at Seattle's Museum of Popular Culture.

• Irsay provided John Coltrane's 1966 Yamaha Alto Saxophone, Miles Davis' 1980 Martin Committee Trumpet and a cape worn by James Brown throughout the '60s and '70s to an exhibit dedicated to the legacy of Black music.
• "My purpose in building this collection was to preserve, protect and share items that tell inspiring stories about dreaming big, overcoming obstacles and accomplishing great things in life," Irsay said in a statement.

Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.