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Indianapolis Colts How Jim Irsay made Indianapolis a football town per Peyton Manning After the passing of Jim Irsay, Peyton Manning spoke about the impact the owner had on the Colts in making Indianapolis a football town.

 

Peyton Manning talks to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay during their joint practice against the Cleveland Browns at Grand Park in Westfield on Thursday, August 15, 2019. Colts Preseason Training Camp

With the sudden passing of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, there has been an influx of people within the football world remembering the legacy he left since taking in the team in 1997. As Peyton Manning had a heartbreaking reaction to Irsay’s passing, he would speak further on the impact that he had on the team and the city.

 

Manning spoke about Irsay on ESPN’s “NFL Live” and emphasized how he made the city of Indianapolis a “football town” as the Colts became a prestigious franchise in the league, according to the outlet.

 

“When I got there, Indiana basketball, [auto] racing, the Indy 500 — that was it,” Manning said. “I think football was the third sport. Maybe not. Golf might’ve been in there. And all of a sudden, because of the commitment Jim made to winning.

 

“He goes out and hires Bill Polian, who had rebuilt the Buffalo Bills, had started the Carolina Panthers as a new franchise, takes them to the NFC Championship, then he drafts Edgerrin James, obviously re-signs Marvin Harrison, who’s already there,” Manning continued. “And next thing you know, the Colts all of a sudden, ‘Hey, the Colts are beating Miami, they’re beating Buffalo, they’re winning their division. And all of a sudden, ‘Hey, the Colts are for real.

 

 

 

 

 

Colts legend Peyton Manning speaks on the impact Jim Irsay had

Colts owner Jim Irsay, left, and Colts President Bill Polian, right, congratulates Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning on winning the 2008 NFL MVP during a halftime ceremony.

 

 

 

The Indianapolis Colts host the Philadelphia Eagles at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN on Thursday night, August 20, 2009 in their second preseason game.

Sam Riche-USA TODAY NETWORK

As Indiana Pacers fans memorialized Irsay after his death, the basketball team had been the main one in the city before Irsay took over the Colts.

 

 

Manning spoke more about his impact on the city and how it started due to Irsay’s “commitment” in making the football team a winning organization.

 

 

 

 

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Flags fly at half staff at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Indianapolis.

 

 

 

 

 

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died on May 21 at 65-years-old.

 

 

 

 

Late Colts owner Jim Irsay gets touching moment of silence at Indy 500 after sudden passing

Peyton Manning talks with former GM Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay and former head coach Tony Dungy during their joint practice against the Cleveland Browns at Grand Park in Westfield on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

 

 

 

Colts Preseason Training Camp

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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

 

Right before your eyes, Indianapolis became the biggest football town,” Manning said. “High school football goes up. Fans wear more jerseys to a Colts game than any other stadium out there.

 

 

 

 

And that was [because of] Jim’s commitment. That was his commitment to the city that he was going to bring them a winner once he took over, and he did.

 

 

 

The true moment one could argue is when Indianapolis chose Manning in 1999 to be the face of the franchise, which started a chain of events, and the success ensued. Manning would speak on the “rumors” of the Colts moving, but expressed Irsay’s desire to stay in Indianapolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“There were all kinds of rumors about us maybe moving to Los Angeles or whatnot,” Manning said. “Jim always wanted to stay in Indianapolis, but he felt like, ‘Hey, we have this really good team. We’re fun to watch. Let’s get them a new stadium to play in.’ And the next thing you know, Lucas Oil Stadium is built.

 

 

 

 

 

He cared about his community, he cared about his family, but he loved the Colts, he loved the horseshoe as he called it, and I think that’s a great legacy,” Manning continued.

 

At any rate, the Colts are looking to live up to Irsay’s name and succeed in 2025 as they open the upcoming season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7.

 

 

 

 

Zachary Weinberger is a credentialed Miami Heat reporter and an Associate Editor covering the NBA at-large, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball for ClutchPoints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022, covering sports at the FAU University Press and later at The Palm Beach Post.