Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is a frequent user of social media, and he often sends out updates on the team from his X account. Earlier this season, he kept fans aware of what was happening with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Irsay has been with the team for 52 seasons and has been the team’s owner since 1997.
Let’s take a look at his time with the organization.
Jim Irsay’s Start With the Colts
Robert Irsay, Jim’s father, bought the Baltimore Colts in 1972, and that started Jim’s affiliation with the team. Jim was only 13 when his father bought the team, and he started working with the team full-time after he graduated from SMU. He learned the business by working in a number of different departments, including ticket sales, public relations, and football operations.
When Robert Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis in 1984, Jim became the youngest general manager in NFL history at 24. The highlight of his time as general manager was in 1987, when he acquired Los Angeles Rams All-Pro running back Eric Dickerson in a three-team blockbuster trade. That season, the Colts made their only postseason appearance during Irsay’s tenure as general manager.
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The Colts had six losing seasons during the ten years Irsay served as the team’s general manager. Robert Irsay hired Bill Tobin to be the Vice President of Football Operations for the 1994 season. Jim stayed as the team’s general manager to oversee the franchise’s business.
After his father suffered a stroke in 1995, Irsay took over the day-to-day operations of the franchise. When Robert Irsay died in 1997, Jim became the team’s owner after settling a legal dispute with his stepmother.
Irsay’s Ownership Résumé
One of Irsay’s first moves was to fire Tobin and hire Bill Polian to be the team’s general manager. Under the leadership of Irsay and Polian, the Colts built a team that was considered among the best in the NFL for over a decade.
Polian put together a power offense behind future Hall of Fame players Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison. Polian’s Colts teams compiled a record of 134-74 and made the playoffs ten times in 13 seasons. Indianapolis won one of two Super Bowl appearances under Polian.
In March 2014, Irsay was arrested on suspicion of DUI and was charged with four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance after police found multiple prescription drugs inside his vehicle. Irsay, who needed treatment several years earlier after becoming dependent on painkillers after several orthopedic operations, checked into a rehab facility shortly after the arrest.
Irsay eventually pleaded guilty in September to one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He received a six-game suspension and a $500,000 fine from the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. His daughter, Carlie, ran the team during his suspension.
Irsay’s Collection
Irsay is a collector of rock music, sports, and pop culture memorabilia and takes his collection on the road for public displays. His collection also contains items from American history, like the 1823 William J. Stone printing of the Declaration of Independence and signed documents from numerous U.S. presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
Irsay owns guitars used by several of the all-time great artists, including Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. His collection was named the best guitar collection in the world by Guitar Magazine.
Irsay also performs with “The Jim Irsay Band,” a group that appears at fundraisers and events around the country.
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