Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who passed away 13 days ago at age 65, was honored on Monday with a funeral in Indianapolis, his adopted hometown. According to Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star, the two-hour service included 10 speakers and a performance by John Mellencamp, who played “Pink Houses” at Irsay’s request. “He asked for this song to be played,” Mellencamp noted.
The service drew notable attendees, including former and current Colts coaches Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Chuck Pagano, Frank Reich, and Shane Steichen, as well as general managers Bill Polian, Ryan Grigson, and Chris Ballard.
As Mellencamp left, he remarked, “As we all go on, think of Jimmy from time to time and what he did for this community. And let’s hope his dreams come true.”
Irsay left a significant mark on Indianapolis. Known for his vibrant, complex, and human personality, he inherited the Colts and worked to elevate the franchise’s on-field success and its off-field contributions to the community.