Indianapolis Colts great and current receivers coach Reggie Wayne was overcome with emotion while reflecting on the legacy of late team owner Jim Irsay during the team’s first media availability following his passing. Wayne, a six-time Pro Bowler and member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI-winning team, spoke about his close relationship with Irsay, who died in his sleep recently at age 65. “It’s like losing a family member. There were times that I felt like [Irsay] treated me like I was one of his sons even though he didn’t have any,” Wayne said, managing a smile as he addressed reporters.
Irsay, who began his football journey as a ball boy when his father purchased the team in 1972, became the youngest team owner at 37 after his father’s death in 1997. Wayne highlighted Irsay’s generosity and deep care for the community, stating, “He had the biggest heart in the city. I think we all know how caring he was, how easy he was as far as giving… I think he was definitely the heart of this city.” Wayne, who played his entire 14-year career with the Colts after being drafted from the University of Miami in 2001, returned to the team in 2022 as an assistant coach. He shared his message to the players, urging them to honor Irsay’s memory by learning about his life and pushing themselves in the name of his legacy. Despite Irsay’s personal struggles, his impact on the franchise was profound, restoring its glory and leaving an indelible mark on the organization.
While reminiscing about his time with Irsay, Wayne struggled to explain the message he shared with receivers after learning about Irsay’s passing. “I told the receivers, I said, ‘A lot of y’all don’t really know him but he would’ve done anything for anybody. He would’ve gave the clothes off his back,’” he said tearfully. “He cared about his players. He cared about his team. He cared about the city. And it wasn’t just the players, he cared about the people in the building. He was that dude. And I told them, I said straight up ‘Man, y’all don’t really know him but y’all got to push your ass for him. Because he would’ve done that for y’all. So, that’s what I told them. I said, ‘Y’all got homework to do, man. Read about him. Learn about him. So that you really know the type of person he was.’” Irsay battled health and addiction issues in his life. Despite his struggles, he restored glory to the franchise and left an everlasting impact on the organization.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.