INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay continued to suffer setbacks from a longtime addiction to painkillers prior to his death in May, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
The Post cites five people who had direct knowledge of Irsay’s relapses but who requested anonymity because they said they feared retaliation from the team.
Irsay died May 21. The team said he died “peacefully in his sleep.”
The Post story says Irsay overdosed at least three times since February 2020, including twice during a 12-day span, the first in December 2023 at his home in suburban Indianapolis and the second in January 2024 in Miami.
Irsay was notably absent for most of the next four months, an unusually long time for someone who was regularly engaged in the Colts’ day-to-day functions. At the time, team officials said Irsay was away because he had a “severe respiratory illness.”
Irsay’s three daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — are the family’s third generation to run the team. The new co-owners declined interview requests from the Post but issued a statement to the Post and The Associated Press.
“We continue to grieve the loss of our dad, a man defined not only by his role as owner of the Colts but also by his resilience, his personal struggles and his deep love for family, friends, and community,” they said. “Throughout his life, our dad was open about his battles with addiction and mental health. He never claimed to be perfect. Instead he used his voice to reduce stigma and advocate for those similar challenges with honesty, vulnerability and compassion.”
The Post story said Irsay also allegedly was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died.
Irsay began his football career as a ballboy for the Baltimore Colts in the early 1970s after his father, Robert, swapped franchises with the late Carroll Rosenbloom, who got the Los Angeles Rams in the deal.
The younger Irsay went on to become the youngest general manager in NFL history in 1984 at age 24 when the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
He took over as team owner following the death of his father in 1997 and played a prominent role on league committees both before and after the Colts won the Super Bowl following the 2006 season.
Jim Irsay is scheduled to join his father in the team’s Ring of Honor when the Miami Dolphins visit Indy for the Sept. 7 season opener.
COLTS SIGN WR TYLER SCOTT, S BEN NIKKEL TO PRACTICE SQUAD; RELEASE WR TYLER KAHMANN FROM PRACTICE SQUAD
Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed safety Ben Nikkel and wide receiver Tyler Scott to the practice squad. The team also released wide receiver Tyler Kahmann from the practice squad.
Nikkel, 6-1, 210 pounds, participated in the Washington Commanders’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. As a rookie in 2024, he spent time on the Commanders practice squad. Nikkel was originally signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2024. Collegiately, he played in 24 games (two starts) at Iowa State (2021-23) and compiled 43 tackles (24 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and three passes defensed. Prior to Iowa State, Nikkel spent three seasons (2018-20) as a wide receiver at McPherson College and totaled 107 receptions for 1,570 yards (14.7 avg.) and 10 touchdowns.
Scott, 5-10, 182 pounds, participated in the Chicago Bears’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He played in 28 games (four starts) in two seasons (2023-24) with the Bears and totaled 18 receptions for 173 yards (9.6 avg.). Scott also tallied seven carries for 41 yards (5.9 avg.) and 13 kickoff returns for 315 yards (24.2 avg.). He was originally selected by Chicago in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.
Kahmann, 6-2, 207 pounds, participated in Indianapolis’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He was originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. Kahmann saw action in 47 career games at Emporia State (2019-24) and compiled 281 receptions for 3,661 yards (13.0 avg.) and 54 touchdowns.
COLTS SIGN DT TIM SMITH TO PRACTICE SQUAD
Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed defensive tackle Tim Smith to the practice squad.
Smith, 6-4, 306 pounds, participated in the Colts’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He was selected by the team in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. Collegiately, Smith appeared in 64 career games (32 starts) at Alabama (2020-24) and registered 124 tackles (49 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
COLTS SIGN WR LAQUON TREADWELL TO PRACTICE SQUAD
Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to the practice squad.
Treadwell, 6-2, 215 pounds, participated in Indianapolis’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He originally signed with the team as a free agent on July 24, 2024. Treadwell has played in 83 career games (24 starts) in his time with the Colts (2024), Baltimore Ravens (2023), Seattle Seahawks (2022), Arizona Cardinals (2022), New England Patriots (2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), Atlanta Falcons (2020) and Minnesota Vikings (2016-19). He has totaled 111 receptions for 1,242 yards (11.2 avg.) and five touchdowns. Treadwell has also appeared in four postseason contests.
COLTS SEEKING TO END 4-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT WITH NEW QB, MAJOR DEFENSIVE CHANGES
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Expectations
The Colts haven’t reached the playoffs since the 2020 season and even before team owner Jim Irsay died in May, he made one thing clear to general manager Chris Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and Colts fans: The drought needs to end. Ballard responded by signing free agent quarterback Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson, Indy’s first-round pick two years ago. Jones wound up being selected as the starter last week, making Richardson’s future with the franchise unclear. Jones should have a solid supporting cast around him if one-time NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor and go-to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. stay healthy. Receiver Alec Pierce also led the NFL in yards per catch last season, Josh Downs also is a strong receiving option and rookie tight end Tyler Warren provides much improved versatility. But along the offensive line, Indy is replacing two starters and during the preseason and a joint practice against Green Bay, it looked like anything but the strength it’s supposed to be. Defensively, the Colts could see major improvement with a new coordinator. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin, the defending league tackles champ, both return as does defensive end Samson Ebukam, their sacks leader from 2023 who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon last summer. They’ll team up with Kwity Paye and last year’s top draft pick Laiatu Latu to provide the pass rush. Ballard also added cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum in free agency and more recently four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard because of injuries. But there are still questions at linebacker and the injuries in the secondary could wind up hurting their progression. Have they done enough to make a run at the playoffs? Ballard and Steichen are counting on it.
New faces
QB Daniel Jones, TE Tyler Warren, CB Charvarius Ward, CB Xavien Howard, S Cam Bynum, RB Kahlil Herbert, K Spencer Shrader, DT JT Tuimoloau, DT Neville Gallimore, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Key losses
C Ryan Kelly, OL Will Fries, LB E.J. Speed, S Julian Blackmon, K Matt Gay, LB Grant Stuard, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, TE Kylen Granson, OL Mark Glowinski, QB Joe Flacco, QB Sam Ehlinger, DC Gus Bradley.
Strengths
Taylor is one of the league’s most potent rushers and last season, he stayed mostly healthy. The result was his third 1,000-yard season. Warren’s ability to run, block, catch or throw gives Indy the flexibility to try just about anything on offense. And three quarterbacks with running ability — Jones, Richardson and Riley Leonard — could help keep defenses off balance. But it’s the receivers who could make the biggest jump. Pittman was hurt most of last season. And if Downs continues to be a solid option, Pierce proves last season was no fluke and Adonai Mitchell plays as well as he did at training camp, it could be the deepest position group on the team.
Weaknesses
Until Jones — or Richardson — proves they can play winning football consistently, the quarterback questions will continue. The other big question is whether the defense will improve much off a poor 2024. It was so bad last season that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner called it the worst unit he’s played on since arriving in Indy in 2020. That prompted coaching staff changes and a major offseason overhaul. Now the Colts are about to find out if they’ve improved the pass coverage or pass rush — or both — enough to become a playoff contender, especially in the depleted secondary.
Camp development
The big story was the quarterback competition between Jones and Richardson. It was a critical call for Steichen. Indy had hoped Jones or Richardson would be a clear-cut choice. Instead, the competition was so close it took nearly the entire preseason to pick the starter. Jones will be Indy’s eighth opening day starter in the past nine seasons.
Fantasy player to watch
Tyler Warren. Taylor and Pittman may be safer picks, but the rookie tight end might be the most intriguing. At camp, he showed he could make plays regardless of who threw the ball. And at Penn State, he also was used a short-yardage rusher and even, occasionally, threw a pass. With Steichen’s creativity, Warren could be as fun to watch as he is capable of scoring fantasy points.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Win Super Bowl: 50-1.
