Jim Irsay, entering his 40th NFL season, has guided the Indianapolis Colts to an elite standing in the league since assuming control of the franchise in 1997. The team his family has owned since 1972 has earned the league’s best regular-season record (138-54) over the last 12 seasons, while earning the most playoff appearances (11) by any team.
Jim Irsay, entering his 40th NFL season, has guided the Indianapolis Colts to an elite standing in the league since assuming control of the franchise in 1997. The team his family has owned since 1972 has earned the league’s best regular-season record (138-54) over the last 12 seasons, while earning the most playoff appearances (11) by any team.
The Colts have won eight division titles in that same period, five consecutively in the AFC South (2003-07) as well as the 1999 AFC East crown. In 2010, the club won the AFC South and tied the NFL record with a ninth consecutive playoff berth. In 2009, the Colts became the only NFL team to post seven consecutive seasons with 12 or more wins. The Colts became the third team to open a season with 14 consecutive victories. Indianapolis earned the NFL’s best record and home-field playoff advantage, won the AFC Championship and reached Super Bowl XLIV, a second title appearance for the team in four seasons. The performance closed the 2000-09 decade where Indianapolis produced 115 regular-season victories, the most in NFL history. The club also set another league record with 23 consecutive regular-season victories from 2008-09.
Under Irsay’s leadership, the team won 65 regular-season games from 2005-09, the second-highest five-year total in NFL history and twice ranked third in league history in the same category (63, 2003-07; 2004-08). Three times (51, 2004-07; 2005-08; 2006-09) the club has tied for the fourth-most wins in a four-year regular-season span, while twice tying for the sixth-most total wins (regular season/playoff) over four seasons (57, 2003-06; 2006-09). The Colts have won 10+ games in nine straight regular seasons, the second-longest streak in NFL history, and the franchise stands alone in earning victory streaks of at least seven consecutive games in six consecutive regular seasons (2003-09).
In 2008, the team opened Lucas Oil Stadium, one of America’s finest venues. The club has played before sellout crowds and set seasonal home attendance records in the first three years of the stadium. The club has won 19 of 24 regular-season games, two playoff outings and an AFC Championship for its most treasured asset: Colts fans. Lucas Oil Stadium will host Super Bowl XLVI in February, 2012. The sporting world’s crowning event will culminate worldwide attention for Indianapolis, its surrounding areas and some of the nation’s finest residents.
A hallmark of Jim Irsay’s tenure of stewardship was the 2006 season, when the franchise won its fourth World Championship, a 29-17 victory over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI. Following its triumphant title return, the team was welcomed by a raucous crowd lining downtown streets and filling the RCA Dome. Irsay responded by sending the Lombardi Trophy on a tour throughout Indiana. The 50-stop, 3,130-mile tour gave fans an opportunity to see, touch and have pictures taken with the trophy. That fall, he created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to compete for one of five authentic Super Bowl rings. The effort raised more than $225,000 for charity and entertained thousands who witnessed the 10 finalists take their chance to pick one of five treasure chests that contained a ring inscribed with, ‘Colts Fan.’
Irsay joined the professional staff in 1982, upon graduation with a degree in broadcast journalism from Southern Methodist University. He was named Vice President and General Manager in 1984. He served in that capacity until taking the role of Senior Executive Vice President, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer in April of 1996. In January of 1997, he assumed sole ownership of the team and has served as its Owner and CEO since that time.
An active and participating owner, Irsay chairs the league’s Legislative Committee and serves on both the Finance Committee and the Super Bowl Advisory Committee. He also has served on the Executive Committee of the Management Council and the Pro-College Relations Committee. Additionally, he was a member of the Realignment Working Group and the Working Club Executive Committee that authored the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement in 1993.
His community leadership in Central Indiana includes board service on the United Way of Central Indiana, The Indy Partnership and Noble of Indiana.
Jim and his wife, Meg, oversee the Colts’ extensive contributions program. Passionate advocates for education, the Irsay family established a four-year scholarship at SMU awarded to a graduate of an Indiana high school. In their home city and state, the Irsays are active supporters for programs that address domestic violence, children with disabilities and their families, environment, cancer research and contemporary dance.
Although football has been the focus of his professional life, he is a music aficionado who collects rare guitars (including Jerry Garcia’s Tiger and one of George Harrison’s guitars), and an Americana fan who collects rare historical documents, including Jack Kerouac’s original manuscript of On the Road.
Jim and Meg have three daughters, Carlie, who is pursuing graduate work in psychology, Casey, a graduate of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and Kalen, a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Carlie, Casey and Kalen serve as vice presidents with the club.
