Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away Wednesday at the age of 65. The longtime NFL owner and CEO owned the team since 1997 and led the Colts to a victory in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears.
Few NFL players are as closely associated with a single franchise as ManningCast host Peyton Manning is with the Indianapolis Colts. Manning was one of the first athletes to share his condolences on social media, offering heartfelt memories and reflections on his time with Irsay.
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Manning wrote, “I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing. He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner, and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend. #18″.
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Fellow quarterback—and longtime rival—Tom Brady quickly offered his support, commenting on Manning’s post, “❤️🙏🏻 RIP ❤️🙏🏻”.
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Colts fans flooded the team’s social media pages with messages of shock and gratitude, many calling Irsay an “icon.”
The Colts drafted Manning first overall in 1998, launching a golden era for the franchise that spanned more than a decade. Manning was released by the team in March 2012 following a series of neck injuries that sidelined him for the 2011 season. He went on to play four seasons for the Denver Broncos, leading them to a Super Bowl 50 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
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Despite his release from the team, Manning and Irsay reportedly remained in touch over the years. Irsay once remarked that he had never been as close to an NFL player as he was to Manning.
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