Jim Irsay, longtime owner of NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, dies aged 65
Jim Irsay, longtime owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts and one of the NFL’s most recognizable figures, has died at age 65.The franchise announced that Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday afternoon.“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward said in a statement.“Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts, in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed.”Irsay, who took over full control of the team in 1997 following the death of his father Robert Irsay, presided over the most successful era in Colts history.
Under his leadership, the team drafted quarterback Peyton Manning in 1998, ushering in more than a decade of dominance that included eight division titles and a victory in Super Bowl XLI.pic.twitter.com/TZg4kMpdAjBorn into football royalty, Jim Irsay grew up around the game and began working with the Colts as a teenager, handling everything from equipment to front-office duties.He became the NFL’s youngest general manager in 1984, the year the team relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
He later assumed day-to-day control of the franchise in 1995 when his father suffered a stroke.Beyond the gridiron, Irsay was known for his colorful personality, deep love of music and philanthropic spirit.He amassed a world famous collection of music memorabilia and frequently shared it with the public through tours and performances with his band.His charitable contributions benefited countless individuals and organizations across Indiana and the US, from mental health initiatives to support for underserved communities.“Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered,” Ward said.
“Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere.”Over 38 years under Irsay’s involvement with the franchise from 1984 through 2024, the Colts went 316-294-1 in the regular season and 13-16 in the playoffs.“We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.“Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.He spent his life and career in the National Football League.
Starting as a teenager as a Colts’ ballboy, he learned every position in the organization before assuming leadership of the Colts approximately 30 years ago.Jim’s Colts won the Super Bowl, hosted another and built Lucas Oil Stadium.”Goodell noted Irsay’s participation in league operations as the active chairman of the legislative committee and a member of the finance committee.“He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts’ players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy,” Goodell said in the statement.“Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country.
“On behalf of the entire NFL, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Jim’s daughters and their families, and to his many friends throughout the NFL.”In February 2024, Irsay took to social media to reveal that his health was improving after he was hospitalized for a severe respiratory illness.“On the mend.Grateful for all the messages of love and support,” Irsay wrote on Twitter.The Colts released a statement on 9 January 2024, saying Irsay was undergoing treatment for the illness.
On 8 December 2023, per a police report, Irsay, then 64, was found unresponsive in his home in Carmel, Indiana, prompting emergency personnel to administer Narcan, which is commonly used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose,Irsay revealed during a November 2023 interview on HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel that he had battled addiction and nearly died from a previous overdose,He said he had been to rehab “at least 15 times”,He publicly credited Alcoholics Anonymous for positively impacting his life and that organization’s 12-step program has “literally saved hundreds of thousands or millions of lives”, Irsay told ESPN in 2024,Irsay is survived by his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson; his ex-wife, Meg Coyle; and 10 grandchildren.
The Colts have not announced succession plans, but Irsay’s daughters – already active in team operations – are expected to continue his legacy.
UK government borrowing jumps to £20.2bn in April; markets fall after weak US debt auction – business live
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the eurozone.It’s a new financial year, but the same old story for the UK government, as borrowing rises faster than expected.The latest public finance figures, just released, show that the UK borrowed £20.2bn in April. That’s £1bn more than in April 2024 and the fourth-highest April borrowing since monthly records began in 1993
Will cyber-attack threaten M&S’s hard-won return to fashion relevance?
In September 2019, as Marks & Spencer fell out of the FTSE 100 for the first time, its then chief executive, Steve Rowe, described the retailer as having a “reputation for frumpiness”. Just six years later, thanks to clever campaigns, unexpected collaborations and a focus on catwalk-influenced pieces, the retailer has transformed itself into the go-to fashion destination for high street shoppers.Annual results, released on Wednesday, showed a 22% rise in pre-tax profits in the year to 30 March. Overall sales were up 6% to £13.9bn with fashion and homeware increasing 3
OpenAI buys iPhone architect’s startup for $6.4bn
OpenAI is buying an untested startup for $6.4bn, the ChatGPT maker’s biggest acquisition yet. The hardware startup, called io, was founded by Apple design guru Jony Ive, known best as one of the principal architects of the iPhone. Ive and OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, said in a blog post that their partnership has been two years in the making.“A collaboration built upon friendship, curiosity and shared values quickly grew in ambition,” they wrote in the blog post, which offered scant details on upcoming devices
Scattered Spider is focus of NCA inquiry into cyber-attacks against UK retailers
A hacker community known as Scattered Spider is a key suspect in a criminal inquiry into cyber-attacks against UK retailers including Marks & Spencer, detectives have said.Scattered Spider, a loose collective of native English-speaking cybercriminals, has been strongly linked with hacks against M&S, the Co-op and Harrods. M&S said on Wednesday it will take an estimated £300m hit to profits after its systems were hacked last month.The UK’s National Crime Agency, whose remit includes combating cybercrime, said the group was a focus in its investigations.“We are looking at the group that is publicly known as Scattered Spider, but we’ve got a range of different hypotheses and we’ll follow the evidence to get to the offenders,” Paul Foster, the head of the NCA’s national cybercrime unit, told the BBC
Northampton’s Champions Cup final date with Bordeaux should be all-out attack | Ugo Monye
How do Northampton Saints go again? After pulling off a stunning upset to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat by Leinster and take their place in Saturday’s final, the question is how do Phil Dowson’s side overcome one of the French giants, Bordeaux, to clinch the Champions Cup?Had the final been a week later I’d have feared for Northampton but they are helped by the ability to distract themselves with Premiership action, and I think the manner of victory over Leinster plays into their hands. Northampton need to focus on being unashamedly themselves. In Dublin the gameplan was to put the car into fifth gear from the first whistle and that’s precisely what they did. When your approach is so authentic and in keeping with your culture, it makes it that much easier.I also think we have two teams contesting the final after the heartache of last year – maybe even because of it
Haliburton and Pacers stun Knicks with epic comeback in Game 1 of East finals
The ghosts of Reggie Miller were alive and well at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night – and Tyrese Haliburton once again played the role of Garden villain to perfection.Haliburton helped Indiana complete an unprecedented 14-point comeback in the final reel, tying the game with a wild jumper at the buzzer in regulation, to beat the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Pacers now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven-games series for a trip to the NBA finals after pulling off one of the most improbable finishes in playoff history.WHAT A SHOT BY TYRESE HALIBURTON 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/8wEwdkeRwZ pic
UK borrowing rises to £20.2bn, putting pressure on Rachel Reeves
WeightWatchers scraps business model to team up with anti-obesity drugs provider
Most AI chatbots easily tricked into giving dangerous responses, study finds
‘Every person that clashed with him has left’: the rise, fall and spectacular comeback of Sam Altman
Athletes warn against potential health risks of ‘dangerous, unethical’ Enhanced Games
Jim Irsay, longtime owner of NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, dies aged 65