Jim Irsay to be Inducted into Colts Ring of Honor in Emotional 2025 Season Opener

On September 7, as the Indianapolis Colts open their 2025 season against the Miami Dolphins, Lucas Oil Stadium will become the setting for one of the most poignant moments in franchise history. In front of tens of thousands of fans, Jim Irsay—the late Owner & CEO of the Colts—will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor, just months after his passing.

The announcement came on what would have been Irsay’s 66th birthday, adding a bittersweet note to an already emotional tribute. Irsay, who died on May 21 and was laid to rest on June 2, will become the 20th figure enshrined in the Colts’ Ring of Honor, joining a pantheon of franchise legends that includes Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, and his own father, Robert Irsay.

“There was no bigger advocate for the Colts, the NFL, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana than our dad, Jim Irsay,” said Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon. “It’s only fitting that he now joins the other amazing Colts legends in our Ring of Honor who contributed so much to our franchise and our community over the past four decades.”

Although born and raised in the Chicago area, Jim Irsay’s heart belonged to Indianapolis. His journey with the Colts began in the early 1970s, when his father, Robert Irsay, purchased the then-Baltimore Colts. A young Jim was often found at training camps, soaking up the game, forming bonds, and learning the business from the ground up. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1982 with a degree in broadcast journalism, he officially joined the franchise—starting a remarkable 54-year run with the team.

In 1984, when the Colts made the monumental move to Indianapolis, Irsay became the youngest general manager in NFL history. Three years later, he helped lead the team to its first playoff appearance in its new home city. By 1997, Jim Irsay had taken over sole ownership of the Colts, ushering in a golden era of football in Indianapolis.

Under his leadership, the Colts became one of the NFL’s most successful franchises. From 2000 to 2009, the team notched a league-best 115 regular season victories and achieved a then-record 23 consecutive wins. Those years produced six eventual Hall of Famers and culminated in a franchise-defining moment: the Colts’ victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. On that rainy night in Miami in 2007, Jim Irsay delivered Indianapolis its first NFL championship—a moment the city will never forget.

But Irsay’s vision extended far beyond the football field. He was instrumental in securing Super Bowl XLVI for Indianapolis in 2012, an event that brought global attention and economic impact to the city. Even more significantly, he was a steward of the NFL itself, playing a crucial role in designing the league’s modern salary cap and helping to author the groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement in 1993.

Off the field, Jim Irsay’s legacy is deeply rooted in compassion, philanthropy, and community building. He gave generously and often anonymously to causes across Indiana and the nation. Whether it was funding mental health treatment, building community centers, or simply helping a stranger in need, Irsay embodied the spirit of giving.

Among his proudest accomplishments was the launch of Kicking The Stigma, a family-led initiative to combat mental health stigma and improve access to care. Since 2020, the Irsays have committed more than $31 million to mental health causes, becoming a leading voice in a conversation many are still afraid to have.

From the Irsay Family YMCA to the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, from the Center for Leadership Development to a new animal shelter, the fingerprints of Jim Irsay’s generosity are visible across the city he loved.

As the Colts prepare for their 2025 home opener, they are also preparing a series of events to honor Irsay’s life and legacy—details of which will be shared later this summer. For now, fans are invited to reflect on the life of a man who gave his heart and soul to Indianapolis.

This fall, as the lights shine down on Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts will pause to honor the man who helped build the house they call home. Jim Irsay may no longer be on the sidelines, but his presence will forever live on—in the rafters, in the hearts of Colts fans, and in the soul of the city he helped shape.