Colts nation responds with shock and grief after Jim Irsay's death

Shocking news broke last night, as Jim Irsay, the longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, passed away in his sleep at the age of 65. Irsay had been the owner of the team since 1997, taking over from his father, Robert Irsay. He had already been running the day-to-day operations since 1995, after his father suffered a stroke. He emerged victorious after a legal battle with his stepmother over the ownership of the team, making him the youngest owner in the league at the time.

Under Irsay, the Colts saw their most successful stretch in franchise history, with legendary players like Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Adam Vinatieri, and more. He became a beloved figure in the NFL, whose presence will be sorely missed.

Colts nation is already reflecting on the loss of Irsay, with current and former players alike speaking out on his passing.

Peyton Manning

Manning posted on Instagram with an emotional message:

"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. 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. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18"

Peyton Manning

Pat McAfee

Punter Pat McAfee released a statement on X, calling the loss "devastating" and saying he was privileged to have the honor of being not just one of Irsay's players, but also, a friend.

"Anybody that met him would say that he seemingly woke up everyday wanting to help people.. life got in the way sometimes but, anybody who actually knew him, loved him. A true anomaly," he wrote, adding that after he chose to retire, Irsay assured him that he would always have a place in Indianapolis, and that he was more than just a player - he was family.

"Since that day.. Jim has done everything he can to help me succeed," he said. "He’d join our show anytime I asked, no matter where he was in the world.. He’d send me motivational messages when he heard I was going thru [sic] something.. he’d forward articles that he’d come across that he thought I should read.. He’d answer any question I had about decisions I had to make.. and he even offered up his connections if I wanted to 'buy that lovely wife of yours something nice brother.' Jim was a real one.. and we will all miss the s*** out of him. I send my positive prayers and vibes to his daughters, his grandkids, his loved ones, his staff, and everybody who has been working with Jim for the last 40 years.

Thank you for EVERYTHING big man.. You were a damn legend."

Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson reacted to Irsay's death as well, posting to his Instagram stories reflecting his shock.

Jonathan Taylor

Taylor issued a simple note, both on X and on his Instagram stories about Irsay's death.

TY Hilton

Colts alum TY Hilton was openly emotional about Irsay's loss on X, sharing a photo of the two together. "Please don’t ask me if I’m ok. Cuz I’m not," he wrote.

Reggie Wayne

Wayne, who was a star wide receiver for the Colts, and remains in Indianapolis as the wide receivers coach, said the loss of Irsay "hurts my soul."

DeForest Buckner

Like Taylor, Buckner acknowledged the news with a simple message posted on X.

Ryan Kelly

Kelly had spent his entire career in Indianapolis, before signing with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. He released a statement on Irsay's death acknowledging how much Irsay helped him through some of the hardest times of his life.

"It was an honor to know and play for Jim for 9 years," he said. "The greatest thing about him was his heart and the way he cared for people. I'll never forget sitting on my couch just days after losing our daughter, watching him fight back tears as he presented our family a game ball. He was the first person to ask if he could help bring our boys home from Nashville when they got out of the hospital after 3 months. Never hesitated. Never asked for anything in return. I'll forever be grateful to Jim and the Irsay family for drafting me 9 years ago but more so having a lasting impact on my families [sic] life. Rest easy big man and thank you for everything."

Adam Vinatieri

The legendary kicker shared a photo of Irsay, along with his thoughts on the news.

Tony Dungy

Dungy had high praise for Irsay, and said he wasn't prepared to lose his friend. "Jim was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever known," he wrote. "He was awesome to me and my family. He was a blessing to his players and staff. But more than that he had a heart for people and for the city of Indianapolis. He loved people and did so many things for others—more things than you could imagine. I miss him already. He was a special man and I couldn’t have worked for a better owner."

Jerrell Freeman

A linebacker for the Colts for three years, Freeman posted on X about his feelings towards Irsay's passing.

Chuck Pagano

The former Colts head coach sent his condolences on X, with an emotional message about the loss.

Bruce Arians

The former coach shared a photo of the two together, calling him not only one of his favorite owners, but a friend as well.

Darius Butler

Butler, who was a defensive back for the Colts, also issued a message on Irsay's passing on X.

Andrew Luck and Frank Reich

Together on the Stanford Football page on X, the former quarterback and head coach released statements on Irsay's death.

“I am saddened to hear of the passing of Jim Irsay," Luck said. "Jim loved the Colts with his whole heart, and his passion for football and his franchise was unwavering. I will always be grateful for the support he showed me and the team during my time in Indianapolis. He cared deeply for the players, the fans, and the entire Colts organization. My thoughts are with his family and all who were close with him.”

Reich added,

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay. Mr. Irsay had the rare combination of being a fierce competitor while at the same time having immense compassion for those who were hurting and suffering. His passion for the game and the city of Indianapolis shaped my experience with the Colts and I could not be more grateful for the partnership he and I shared.

“My thoughts and prayers are with this daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and the entire Irsay family during this time.”

Kenny Moore II

The current member of the Colts roster gave a sweet message for Irsay to greet his father.

Pat Angerer

A former linebacker, Angerer said it was an honor to know and play for Irsay.

Matt Overton

The long snapper, who played for the Colts for four years, called Irsay's loss heartbreaking.

Andrew Walker

Another Colts alum, he remembered how Irsay remembered his birthday every single year, even after he left Indianapolis.

It's clear that the loss of Jim Irsay will be deeply felt across the Colts organization for a long, long time.

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