Indianapolis – Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts who took advantage of Peyton Manning’s popularity in a new stadium and a Super Bowl title, died Wednesday at age 65.
Pete Ward, the right man of Irsay and the director of Operations of the team, He made the announcement In a team statement. He said Irsay died peacefully as he slept.
“Jim’s dedication and passion for Indianapolis’s colts, in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community and, most importantly, his love for his family was insurmountable,” Ward said. “Our deepest sympathies go to their daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson and his whole family while we cry with them.”
Irsay had a deep impact on the franchise.
With the general manager of the Hall of Fame, Bill Polian, the coach of the Hall of Fame Tony Dungy and Manning, Irsay helped convert the colts of a laugh in a perennial contender of the title.
But Irsay had fought against health problems in recent years and became less visible after a fall at home. Carmel police officers, Indiana, a northern suburb of Indy, responded to a 911 call from Irsay’s house on December 8. According to the police report, The officers found Irsay breathing but without responding and with a bluish skin tone.
Ward, according to the report, told the officers that he was worried that Irsay suffered from congestive heart failure and that Irsay’s nurse had said that Irsay’s oxygen level was low, her breathing was worked and that she was “mostly” unconscious.
A month later, he was diagnosed with respiratory disease.
During his annual press conference of the training camp last summer, Irsay told journalists that he continued to rehabilitate two later surgeries, although he remained sitting in his golf cart. Irsay did not speak during the recent NFL draft as did.
He had also fought against alcohol addictions and analgesics.
Irsay began his life in football as a ball boy after his late father, Robert, acquired the team in an exchange with the deceased Carroll Rosenbloom, who took over the Rams of Los Angeles. The young Irsay made its way, becoming the youngest general manager in the history of the NFL at age 24. He happened to his father as owner in early 1997.
He also collected guitars, he became friends with musicians, he often found inspiration in the lyrics of Rock ‘N’ Roll.
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