As you’re probably aware as an NFL fan, and certainly as a fan of the Baltimore Colts, you know that James “Jim” Irsay was an American billionaire businessman who was the principal owner, chairman, and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 until his death on May 21, 2025. He was, of course, the son of businessman Robert Irsay (1923–1997), who bought the Baltimore franchise in 1972 for $12 million and moved them to Indianapolis in 1984.
To commemorate Irsay’s passing, the Colts have announced the team will wear a black jersey patch this season to honor him.
The patch has Irsay’s initials, signature, and a smiley face, which he used when signing autographs. It also includes seven grommets, representing the Colts’ horseshoe logo.
Irsay had, to say the least, a troubled life, and I hope he has now found peace.
The Colts released an official tribute video for Irsay on Tuesday morning as a way to show appreciation for everything he did for the city and for the organization.
The boss..👍🏈💙 pic.twitter.com/7rlhsI0tb0
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 27, 2025
UPDATE: The Colts have now released a video showing how the Irsay patch will look on the home jersey:
For The Boss. 💪
Jim's initials, signature and trademark smiley face will be featured on our jerseys this season.#ThankYouJimIrsay pic.twitter.com/Tx9Bn5j8iO
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 27, 2025
Simple. Could it be a perma-memorial like the Chiefs?
Sorry to be that guy, but I think those are nailheads, not grommets. A horseshoe is nailed to the hoof.
Good point! The Colts called them grommets, so I used their nomenclature in the article. But I think you may be correct.
If you can’t be “that guy” here, where can you be? I mean, that’s the foundation of UniWatch. A rewrite of “for people who get it” could be “for ‘that guy’.”
“As you’re probably aware as an NFL fan, and certainly as a fan of the Baltimore Colts…”
Kind of a weird opening line. Why are you assuming I’m a fan of both the NFL and the Baltimore Colts?
That threw me off as well
Are NFL patches getting larger or are jerseys getting shrunken down more?
This one feels larger than most.
I get that this is a memorial to the owner, but my goodness that’s hideously oversized and poorly located. Why not just add a black stripe with his initials between one of the white sleeve stripes?