INDIANAPOLIS — A police report is sharing details about Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay being found unresponsive at his home in Carmel.
According to a police report, someone called Carmel police and said they found Irsay unconscious on a bathroom floor Dec. 8 around 4:30 a.m.
When police arrived, they said Irsay had been moved to his bed, "where he was struggling to breathe and had a weak pulse and constricted pupils."
Police say in the documents that an attempt to wake Irsay up with a sternum rub was not successful. Police then allegedly administered one dosage of Narcan, to which "he responded slightly."
The documents indicate paramedics arrived and "took over lifesaving measures." The documents allegedly say Irsay was then taken to a nearby hospital.
"At this time, it is unknown what Mr. Irsay had ingested prior to our arrival," police allegedly said in the documents, classifying the incident as both "overdose" and "overdose/poisoning."
It is unclear if the Dec. 8 incident is related to Irsay's recent hospitalization, which the team announced in January.
NOTE: A copy of the 911 call, with address and personal information redacted, can be found here.
On Jan. 9, the team said Irsay was being treated for a respiratory illness and issued the following statement:
"Jim Irsay is currently being treated for a severe respiratory illness. While this unfortunately means he won't be able to perform with his band this week in Los Angeles, he is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. We’ll have no additional information at this time and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers."
13News reached out to the Colts organization on Jan. 17 for an update on Irsay's health. The organization responded with the following statement:
"Mr. Irsay continues to recover from his respiratory illness. We will have no further comment on his personal health, and we continue to ask that Jim and his family’s privacy be respected."
In November 2023, Irsay criticized the Carmel Police Department for his arrest nearly a decade ago.
Police in Carmel stopped Irsay for driving erratically in 2014. In the car, they found prescription drugs and more than $29,000 in cash. A toxicology report later revealed Irsay had oxycodone, hydrocodone and a drug used to treat anxiety in his system.
In an interview that aired on HBO Sports, Irsay insisted there was another reason for the arrest.
"I am prejudiced against because I’m a rich, white billionaire," Irsay said. "If I’m just the average guy down the block, they’re not pulling me in, of course not."
The Carmel Police Department responded to the accusations in an email.
"We have a very professional agency consisting of officers that strive to protect our community with integrity and professionalism," Carmel Police Lt. D.J. Schoeff wrote.
In September 2014, Irsay pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count, was fined by the NFL and served a six-game suspension. In the interview, Irsay said he only pleaded guilty to "get it over with."
The 64-year-old Irsay has openly discussed his yearslong battle with substance abuse. He’s also been a vocal supporter of expanding mental health treatment with the team's "Kicking The Stigma" initiative.
Irsay also was asked how he thought his assertion would be received.
"I don’t care what it sounds like," Irsay said. "It’s the truth. I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth, and I know the truth."
Looking for help?
If you or someone you know may be in need of treatment or addiction services, you can call 211 from an Indiana area code or visit them on their website for more help.
Nationally, you can access resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration here, on the SAMHSA National Helpline (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) at 800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY 800-487-4889. It's a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service in English and Spanish for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations.
You can also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message to 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service here.
IU Health offers virtual and in-person treatment for drug or alcohol addiction in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit them on their website.