Say what you want, but the love, compassion, and loyalty he showed his team was unmatched.
As news broke Wednesday evening that Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay, had passed away, I was struck by shock and sadness. Irsay’s battles have been well chronicled, and his overall health had not looked superb over the last year or so. Still, it was unsettling to hear the only owner of the franchise I had ever known was gone at the age of 65. Irsay, like most prominent figures and sports franchise owners, had his supporters and his detractors. Some fans felt fortunate to have him in their corner, while others would have liked him to take different avenues or approaches to the team. No matter how one feels about Irsay and the way he conducted his business, it feels safe to say that no one loved his team and his players more than he did.
When Irsay would talk Colts football, his eyes would light up. It was almost as if he was a child recounting a favorite memory. He had a huge passion for all things Colts from the Baltimore days to the present. He loved his memorabilia, and he seemingly cherished the relationships with the players who helped make it all possible. Watching him interact with players at training camp, some who wouldn’t even make the roster, showed how much he cared. Great bosses make all the difference, and Irsay was one who made players and staff feel like they mattered. He would go on the road at times and loved nothing more than enshrining a Colts legend into the Ring of Honor or even the Hall of Fame. The fact that several players requested he be the one to induct them into the Hall spoke volumes.
Additionally, his loyalty was unmatched. Yes, he ultimately cut ties with Peyton Manning, but that was a business decision. It was plain to see that it broke his heart. It was the right move for the franchise, but it was likely one of the hardest choices he had to make as owner. He kept coaches and even a certain GM around longer than I or others would like, but that is how he operated. When Andrew Luck retired, he let him keep his bonus. That is something most owners would have snatched back. He saw his franchise as a family, and you don’t turn your back on family. Walking the line of business and personal can be difficult. Was he always perfect at it? Of course, not, but Irsay’s love for his organization was his driving force. Win, but win the right way with people you care about. That was Irsay’s approach.
Even typing this now, I am having to remind myself to write in the past tense. Jim Irsay is gone. Everything that was no longer is, but that doesn’t mean he is forgotten or his legacy won’t live on. The Irsay name is imprinted on this city; literally and figuratively. Colts football was brought to this town because of the Irsay name and kept here by Jim’s. He gave Colts fans some of the best years of their sport’s lives by producing a winning team that fans felt more than proud to support and cheer for. There was no one like Jim Irsay, and while his daughters will carry the mantle now, he cannot be replaced. That love, care, compassion, and loyalty, almost to a fault, will never be seen on the same level again. RIP Jim Irsay.