Worrisome report on Colts owner Jim Irsay emerges

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Worrisome report on Colts owner Jim Irsay possibly explains weeks-long absence from team

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/17/24

The Indianapolis Colts released a statement last week that owner Jim Irsay was "being treated for a severe respiratory illness," adding that he was getting "excellent care" and that they had no further updates.

It was further reported that Irsay hadn't been "seen publicly in weeks."
A TMZ Sports report from Wednesday morning has provided a possible explanation for the 64-year-old's lengthy absence.

And, again, Jim Irsay -- to my knowledge -- has not been seen publicly in many weeks.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 17, 2024

The report says that Irsay was found "laying in his bed unresponsive, cold to the touch and gasping for air" during the suspected overdose, according to the Carmel Police Department. Per the report, police documents show cops were dispatched to his residence "around 4:30 a.m." on Dec. 8. after "someone said they 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," the TMZ Sports report said. "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.'"

According to the report, cops said they were prepared to attach an automated external defibrillator (AED) to Irsay before paramedics arrived and "took over lifesaving efforts." He was taken to a nearby hospital and police classified the incident as both an "overdose" and "overdose/poisoning."

The Colts released a statement on Wednesday morning regarding the TMZ Sports report.

Colts statement on owner Jim Irsay, who TMZ reports had a recent suspected overdose: "Mr. Irsay continues to recover from his respiratory illness. We will have no further comment on his personal health, and we continue to ask that Jim and his family’s privacy be respected."
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 17, 2024

Irsay was named the Colts vice president and general manager in 1984, one month after they moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis. He served in those roles until 1996 and has been the owner, chairman and CEO since 1997.

Irsay said in an interview with Andrea Kremer last year that he's battled addiction to alcohol and painkillers during his life and has had at least 15 trips to rehab.

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