‘He made football relevant’: Former Colts coach, analyst remembers Jim Irsay
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDozens of people involved in the Indianapolis Colts community have shared memories and stories about owner Jim Irsay, who died last month.
Rick Venturi, Indianapolis Colts analyst and former coach, has known Irsay for decades.
“Jim and I really grew up with this team,” Venturi said. “If you take us back to 1982, he’s a young buck really just starting out, learning the business. At one point, I was the head coach. We worked hand-in-hand. We would talk football; we would talk how to handle his father. It was really interesting.”
Venturi started his career with the Baltimore Colts and moved with the team to Indianapolis in 1984. He credits Irsay with building a strong team throughout the organization, from players to general managers. He also helped create excitement around the sport.
“He turned [Indianapolis] into, I won’t say a football town, because this month shows you how much basketball and racing means, but he made football relevant,” Venturi said. “Between he and Peyton [Manning], you know, I think they did. The NFL and the shield meant everything to [Irsay].”
A private memorial service for Irsay will be held Monday. Plans for a public tribute have not been finalized and will be shared at a later date, according to the Colts.
The Colts said last week that the team’s uniforms this season will sport a black patch with Irsay’s initials and signature to honor their owner, who joined the team in 1982 and later inherited the team from his father in 1997.
READ MORE: Colts ‘in excellent hands’ with Irsay’s daughters, experts say
Earlier this year, the Inside INdiana Business team got a rare look inside Irsay’s office and The Jim Irsay Collection. You can see some of the music and pop culture memorabilia in the player below.