The Indianapolis Colts community was stunned a few weeks ago when it was announced their owner, Jim Irsay, had been hospitalized with severe symptoms.
While it was initially reported as respiratory issues, TMZ later confirmed Irsay ha been away from the team facility and was being treated for a drug overdose.
According to a report from TMZ 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.
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
On Jan. 9, the Colts released a statement saying Irsay had been dealing with respiratory issues, but now it seems like they didn’t want the overdose to leak at that time but wanted to explain his absence from the facility for nearly a month.
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.”
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.
Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay Makes First Public Announcement Since Shocking Overdose
While the NFL community has heard little detail about the overdose, Irsay’s past struggles with addiction have been widely documented.
On Tuesday, the longtime Colts owner took to social media to make his first public announcement since the shocking overdose.
On the mend. Grateful for all the messages of love and support❤️
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) February 6, 2024
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.
As of now, it seems like Irsay may of dodged another close call.
