Colts Owner Jim Irsay is Back to Business for 2023

The Indianapolis Colts have a passionate and caring owner in Jim Irsay. Since 1997, Irsay has put together a successful and well-known Colts franchise. Most of the time, Irsay has played more of a “backseat” type of ownership role.

Not to say he doesn’t work hard in his position. Instead, it reflects his approach to the Colts’ general manager and head coach. Irsay typically trusts who he hires in those respective positions and has often allowed them to do their jobs without immense pressure, as other NFL owners have not done with their subordinates.

Whether it was head coaches Lindy Infante (1996-97), Jim Mora (1998-2001), Tony Dungy (2002-08), Jim Caldwell (2009-11), or Chuck Pagano (2012-17), Irsay didn’t intercede or impose his position on them. However, this changed explosively in 2022.

It was then head coach Frank Reich’s fifth season with the Colts (2018-2022). It was also a year with a fifth day-one starting quarterback in as many seasons. Keep in mind that Irsay had Peyton Manning from 1998 to 2011 and Andrew Luck from 2012 to 2018, an impressive 21 years with franchise-level QB play. For any owner who has seen that level of success, the aforementioned situation is understandably irritating to watch.

In the 2022 season, after a brutal bludgeoning at the hands of the New England Patriots in week nine to hit a record of 3-5-1, Irsay had enough. Proceeding this game, Irsay pulled his father, Bob Irsay’s move of firing a head coach mid-season.

This shocked many, as Jim had never done this. To me, it showed just how frustrated this typically chill, calm, and collected man was that his team couldn’t find their footing for the last few seasons. Whether it be with identity, quarterback, or wins, it was enough for Irsay to send Reich packing. Of course, this was followed by a decision to bring in former Colts center and legend Jeff Saturday to do something, anything to show a spark.

This decision was because of Irsay’s frustration mixed with his wanting someone he truly believed in to run the team. Not to say that Irsay didn’t “believe” in Reich; instead, it showed potentially that Reich may have lost the team and the locker room in general, leading to incredibly poor motivation on the field from the Colts.

Once the dust settled and Saturday showed he wasn’t anywhere near the point of being a head coach, the cool-down process began for Irsay. General manager Chris Ballard at his end-of-season presser, already looked happier than he did at the Saturday hiring press conference. Irsay also sounded more in tune with his GM and more upbeat that a new dawn was in store.

Following was the hiring of an offensive-minded coach that Irsay trusted Ballard to find for the franchises’ future. His trust paid off when former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen inked a contract. Right away, Irsay seemed happier and back in his relaxed mental state. This is the classic Irsay that Colts faithful have known for over two decades.

Following this, Steichen was then trusted by Irsay to assemble a talented offensive staff post-Reich. Well, he picked up Jim Bob Cooter as offensive coordinator (formerly Jacksonville Jaguars’ pass game coordinator) and Cam Turner as QB coach (formerly in the same role with the Arizona Cardinals). It was clear that they had a vision with Irsay to get a solid staff around a young signal-caller.

Finally, Irsay trusted Ballard’s patience in the draft to stay at the number four slot. Despite nail-biting moments where a trade-up happened, the Colts still got the quarterback they wanted through the process all along with Anthony Richardson from Florida. With these pieces now in place, Irsay can sit back and watch his young Colts team blossom, starting with the 2023 season and a talented coaching staff around them.

Irsay is an owner who loves and appreciates the Colts franchise with everything he’s got. From the staff to the coaches, players, mascots, cheerleaders, and stadium employees, Irsay is an owner who appreciates everyone.

Last season was a brief and uncharacteristic performance from both the Colts and Irsay. Well, with the hope and talent that Indianapolis has in their new, young, and high-ceiling roster, I think Irsay has put that season in the rearview mirror and is ready to get back to the ways of winning in the years to come.

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