Report: Jim Irsay was found unresponsive after suspected overdose
Sep 8, 2019; Carson, CA, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was reportedly found unresponsive in his home recently, and first responders suspected he had overdosed.
According to police documents that were obtained by TMZ, police responded to Irsay’s home in Carmel, Ind., on Dec. 8 after someone said they found Irsay unconscious on a bathroom floor of his residence.
When police arrived, Irsay had been moved to his bed and was struggling to breathe. He had a weak pulse, blue skin tone and constricted pupils. Attempts to wake Irsay with a sternum rub were not successful, but he “responded slightly” after being given a dose of Narcan.
Narcan is an opioid antagonist that is commonly used to revive people who have overdosed on drugs.
Paramedics then arrived at the scene and took over treatment before Irsay was transported to a local hospital. The police report classified the incident as an “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning.”
Police say they obtained a list of medications that Irsay is on from a caretaker, though “it is unknown what Mr. Irsay had ingested prior to our arrival.”
Irsay, 64, was noticeably absent from the public eye toward the end of the Colts’ season. The team announced last week that he has been receiving treatment for a severe respiratory illness. It is unclear if that illness is related to the incident that took place at Irsay’s home last month.
Irsay has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years. He has been open about it on numerous occasions, most recently when he sat down for a November interview with HBO’s Real Sports. Irsay told Andrea Kremer that he has been to rehab “at least 15 times” and once overdosed while trying to detox himself. Irsay said a doctor told him he is lucky to be alive.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is grateful to be alive after years of addiction nearly destroyed him. In his first in-depth interview, Irsay details his painful journey with our @Andrea_Kremer. The new episode of #RealSports streams tomorrow, only on @streamonmax. pic.twitter.com/TQ2Tq2Vcle
— Real Sports (@RealSportsHBO) November 20, 2023
Irsay took over day-to-day operations with the Colts in 1995 when his father, Robert Irsay, suffered a stroke. Robert died two years later, and Jim took over ownership at age 37.
The Colts finished 9-8 this season and fell short of the playoffs after losing to the Houston Texans in Week 18.