BroBible
On Wednesday, May 21, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away at the age of 65 years old. According to a statement from the Colts, Irsay passed away in his sleep.
At 7:35 p.m. EST, the Indianapolis Colts shared a statement on social media announcing the death of team owner Jim Irsay, who become owner of the team in 1997. Just about 7-and-a-half hours before that, Irsay — or, at the very least, Irsay’s account — tweeted a message in support of the Indiana Pacers ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.
Not only did the Pacers beat the Knicks to take a key 1-0 advantage in the ECF but it was via a historic comeback win, as they overcame a 14-point deficit with three minutes to go. Before last night, NBA teams had been a combined 994-0 when leading by 14+ with that much time left in the game. They’re now 994-1.
“Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire Pacers organization, and our city! ” Irsay’s account tweeted the morning of his death at the age of 65 years old.
Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 21, 2025
Irsay was the son of Robert Irsay, who purchased the then-Baltimore Colts for $12 million before infamously and abruptly moving them to Indianapolis in 1984. Jim served as the general manager from 1984 before becoming the owner, chairman, and CEO of the organization following Robert’s passing in 1997.
Irsay’s tenure as Colts’ owner was a success, particularly during the years in which Hall of Famer Peyton Manning was the team’s starting quarterback, as he went 115-58-1 as the Colts’ starter, leading them to 8 divison titles, three AFC title game appearances, two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl championship in 1997.
Beyond the success of the team, Irsay was largely known to be a “player’s owner,” as you’d rarely find a former Colts player with a bad word to say about him — including Pat McAfee, who paid moving tribute to Irsay.
“Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives,” the Colts’ statement about Irsay’s passing read in part.
“Music was one of Jim’s passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.”
Our thoughts are with Irsay’s friends, family, and various loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.
The post [Jim Irsay’s Final Tweet Was In Support Of The Pacers Hours Before They Pulled Off...
