More details around Jim Irsay’s death have surfaced months after the Colts’ longtime owner was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles hotel room in late May.
An August report from the Washington Post details the final months of Irsay’s life, which are believed to include a secret relapse and heavy substance abuse. The report cites witnesses who say Irsay was consuming opioid pills and receiving Ketamine injections, both prescriptions and treatments administered under the care of Dr. Harry Haroutunian.
The investigative story found that Irsay’s final bout with addiction and substance abuse remained hidden from the public, clouding the details around his cause of death. There is no confirmation, but the details of Irsay’s final months come with a better understanding of what may have led to his demise.
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How did Jim Irsay die?
Irsay was found unresponsive in his room at the Beverly Hills Hotel on the morning of May 21, 2025. He was 65 years old.
One of Irsay’s personal assistants called 911, describing him as “cold and really stiff,” per dispatch records. Haroutunian informed police officials that Irsay had been battling several chronic health issues and asserted the cause of death was natural.
Medical examiners did not perform an autopsy or toxicology testing, which is common practice when a death is believed to be of natural causes. The Colts’ statement on Irsay says that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep.”
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Jim Irsay cause of death
Irsay died of cardiac arrest due to pneumonia and heart issues, according to the death certificate signed by Haroutunian.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner did not conduct an autopsy, The Washington Post learned through a spokeswoman’s statement. Without an autopsy or toxicological testing, there is no way to confirm if pneumonia was the actual cause.
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Jim Irsay’s lifelong battle with drug addiction
Irsay had a well-documented history of substance abuse and drug addiction. In his later years, Irsay became an advocate for those struggling with addiction, going as far as launching the Kicking the Stigma charity to raise awareness for issues stemming from addiction and mental illness.
The longtime Colts owner dealt with hip and shoulder issues that required surgery and often resulted in new prescriptions for opioids.
Documented issues of Irsay’s substance abuse date back to March 2014, when he was arrested under suspicion of DUI and drug possession. He was found with multiple bottles of prescription medication, and prosecutors claimed he tested positive for oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Irsay was admitted into rehab in 2014 and suspended for six games by the NFL
During a November 2023 appearance on HBO’s “Real Sports,” Irsay revealed that he had been to rehab “at least 15 times,” also sharing that he once had to be revived from a near-fatal incident.
In early 2024, reports surfaced that Irsay overdosed on opioids on Dec. 8, 2023. He was found unresponsive in his Indiana home and administered a dose of Narcan by first responders before being transported to a local hospital.
The Washington Post’s August 2025 report indicates that Irsay had secretly relapsed in the months leading up to his death. According to the investigation, five individuals said they witnessed Irsay taking opioid pills. Four of them reported seeing him administered ketamine.
The report also details that Irsay experienced at least three overdoses in the last five years of his life, including incidents in Turks and Caicos in February 2020, at his home on Dec. 8, 2023 and near Miami on Dec. 20, 2023.
