The Indianapolis Colts have announced that owner Jim Irsay is undergoing treatment for a “severe respiratory illness.” According to a statement from the team, relayed by The Athletic’s James Boyd, Irsay will not be performing with his band in Los Angeles this week.
The statement reads, “He is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. We’ll have no additional information at this time, and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers.”
Irsay, who became the NFL’s youngest owner in 1997 at the age of 37, took control of the Colts from his late father. The following year, the team drafted Peyton Manning with the No. 1 pick. Under Irsay’s ownership, the Colts made the playoffs all but one time from 1999 to 2010, winning a Super Bowl title in 2006 and clinching the AFC three years later.
After Manning’s departure, Andrew Luck assumed the quarterback role, but the team has experienced a series of changes in that position since Luck’s sudden retirement. The 2022 season saw the Colts finish with a 4-12-1 record, during which Irsay appointed former center Jeff Saturday, who lacked coaching experience.
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Under Shane Steichen’s coaching, the Colts concluded the latest season with a 9-8 record, narrowly missing the playoffs after a Week 18 loss to the Houston Texans.
Jim Irsay is known for the Jim Irsay Collection, a traveling museum of music memorabilia and artifacts, often featuring collaborations with renowned artists on stage. His band was originally scheduled to perform a free show on Thursday night at The Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
Wishing Jim a speedy recovery.
