Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was found unresponsive and cold to the touch in his bed during a suspected overdose in December, according to police documents obtained by TMZ Sports. The incident, which was initially attributed to a respiratory illness, occurred at Irsay’s Carmel residence.
Reports indicated that the police received a call at approximately 4:30 a.m on Dec. 8 from an individual who said they had found Irsay unconscious on the floor of his bathroom, with blue skin tone.
When the police arrived at the scene, they found Irsay moved to his bed. The Colts owner had a weak pulse and constricted pupils and was struggling to breathe. The initial efforts to revive him by administering a sternum rub were unsuccessful. Eventually, the police administered Narcan, a drug that is commonly used to revive individuals during opiate overdose situations, and Irsay responded slightly to the treatment.
The police had been prepared to administer further medical assistance, including attaching an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to Irsay, but paramedics arrived on the scene and took over the lifesaving efforts. Irsay was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance. Police records indicated that the Colts’ owner had been released from the hospital just one day after the incident and had returned home.
The Colts later released a statement in which they confirmed that Irsay was still recovering from a respiratory illness and that they would not be commenting further on his personal health. The statement also requested that Irsay’s privacy and that of his family is respected.
Irsay, who has owned the Colts since 1997, has a history of substance abuse issues. In 2014, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and was suspended for six games by the NFL. Since then, Irsay has sought professional help and has been open about his journey towards sobriety.
