The last time the eccentric Indianapolis Colts owner spoke to the local media about the state of his team was in July 2024. As had become a yearly routine, Irsay arrived at Colts training camp in a suit and sunglasses, oozing with reckless optimism, as he addressed reporters from his golf cart.

The NFL C-suite just got a lot less interesting. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, died Wednesday. A statement from the team said he “passed away peacefully in his sleep,” but that doesn’t feel quite right.