The Indianapolis Colts put together an impressive season given their star rookie QB Anthony Richardson looked like their future franchise starter before suffering a season-ending injury in a Week 4 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As the Colts attempt to add new pieces this offseason and plan for key free agent moves — with their own stars like Michael Pittman Jr., running back Zach Moss who carried the load for much of 2023 and backup QB Gardner Minshew who almost led Indianapolis into the playoffs — their owner will likely be dealing with more serious issues.
On Jan. 9, the Indianapolis Colts announced Jim Irsay had been dealing with a severe respiratory issue in an attempt to answer questions as to why he hadn’t been around the team facility for several weeks.
NFL Insider Adam Schaefer announced the news on social media:
Colts’ statement on team owner Jim Irsay: “Jim Irsay is currently being treated for a severe respiratory illness. While this unfortunately means he won’t be able to perform with his band this week in Los Angeles, he is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. We’ll have no additional information at this time and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers.”
While many Indianapolis Colts fans, NFL media and everyday people sent prayers and well wishes toward the Colts owner, the team downplayed the severity of his illness and it seemed like the 64-year-old, who is known for playing an active role with the team he owns and also started the “Jim Irsay Band” which holds live performances for charity and other special events.
When Schefter released the statement from the Colts on Irsay’s health on Jan. 9, it was also mentioned he wouldn’t be able to play with his band in in an exhibit and concert event in Los Angeles Thursday of that week, which was supposed to feature items from his massive music and sports memorabilia collection.
The band — which is slated to have special appearances from Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and more — planned to hit the stage without Irsay, who served as main vocalist for previous gigs.
Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay Found Unresponsive In December Due To Suspected Overdose, Police Say
According to a report from TMZ early on Wednesday morning Irsay was found laying in his bed unresponsive, cold to the touch and gasping for air during a suspected overdose in December, according to police in Indiana.
Carmel Police Department documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show cops were dispatched to Irsay’s Carmel residence on Dec. 8 at around 4:30 AM … after someone said they had found the Indianapolis Colts owner unconscious on a bathroom floor with a blue skin tone.
When police first arrived on the scene, they say Irsay had been moved to his bed … where he was struggling to breathe and had a weak pulse and constricted pupils.
Police say in the docs an attempt to wake him with a sternum rub was unsuccessful. They added, though, that after administering one dosage of Narcan — a drug commonly used to revive people in opiate overdose situations — “he responded slightly.”
It’s unclear if Jim Irsay’s recent hospitalization announced exactly a month after this newly released incident in his home were related.
The Indianapolis Colts owner has been open about his previous struggles with addiction, noting he’s had at least 15 trips to rehab and had a previous overdose that was nearly fatal.Q
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is grateful to be alive after years of addiction nearly destroyed him. In his first in-depth interview, Irsay details his painful journey with our @Andrea_Kremer. The new episode of #RealSports streams tomorrow, only on @streamonmax. pic.twitter.com/TQ2Tq2Vcle
— Real Sports (@RealSportsHBO) November 20, 2023
Irsay — who’s been the owner of the Colts since 1997 — said in an interview with Andrea Kremer back in November, he’s battled addiction to alcohol and pain pills during his life, requiring at least 15 trips to rehab. He also told Kremer he previously suffered an overdose after he “was trying to detox myself.”
“All of a sudden I started slurring my words and then code blue, I stopped breathing,” he told Kremer of the OD. “And they revived me, and the doctor goes, ‘Jim, you’re one lucky man because I had signed, virtually, the death certificate.'”
As of now, there is no further information on Jim Irsay’s status but we will keep you informed if the Indianapolis Colts release a statement or their is new information reported on the suspected overdose.
