NFL owner found unresponsive, turns blue: Cops suspect overdose

More information is beginning to emerge about Colts owner Jim Irsay, who was found unresponsive in December, turned blue and cold to the touch in a suspected overdose.

Irsay was found on Dec. 8 around 4:30 a.m. in his home in Carmel, Indiana, without air. Staff at his estate told police he had fallen in the bathroom and had been taken to his bedroom. Police determined the incident to be an “overdose” and an “overdose/intoxication,” according to a report from TMZ.

When officers found him, Irsay had severe breathing problems, a weak pulse and constricted pupils, according to the police report filed on the incident.

Police tried to wake up Irsay by rubbing his sternum, according to TMZ. He was given a dose of Narcan to which he “responded mildly.”

(Video credit: FOX59 News)

Paramedics arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and made “life-saving efforts”. Irsay was then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. A list of the medications the football coach was taking at the time was given to police by a caregiver.

“At this time, it is unknown what Mr. Irsay had ingested prior to our arrival,” police said in their report.

“This incident happened about a month before the Colts announced on Jan. 9 that Irsay was being treated for a 'severe respiratory illness' that caused him to miss a scheduled show for his band.” New York Post reported

“An ESPN Colts reporter noted at the time that Irsay, who is one of the most visible owners in the NFL, had not been seen in public for several weeks,” the outlet added.

NEWS: Colts owner Jim Irsay, who has not been seen publicly in weeks, is being treated for a serious respiratory illness, according to the team. As a result, he will not appear at the Irsay Collection event in Los Angeles this week.

No additional details at this time.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 9, 2024

“While this unfortunately means he will not be able to perform with his band this week in Los Angeles, he is receiving excellent care and hopes to return to the stage as soon as possible,” the Colts announced in early January. “We will have no additional information at this time and ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family while he recovers.”

In November, Irsay told sports reporter Andrea Kramer that he had previously battled addiction. He told her he had been to rehab “at least 15 times” and had overdosed once after mixing several drugs while trying to detox.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is thankful to be alive after years of addiction nearly destroyed him. In his first in-depth interview, Irsay details his painful journey with ours @Andrea_Kremer. The new episode of #RealSports streams tomorrow, just underway @streamonmax. pic.twitter.com/TQ2Tq2Vcle

— Real Sports (@RealSportsHBO) November 20, 2023

“All of a sudden, I started slurring my words and then code blue, I stopped breathing,” Irsay confided to Kramer during an episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” “And they revived me, and the doctor said, 'Jim, you're a lucky man because I had virtually signed the death certificate.'”

It is unknown if this hospitalization is related to the December incident.

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is a constitutional conservative who researches and writes extensively on politics and current affairs.

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