Longtime Colts Owner Jim Irsay
Longtime Colts Owner Jim Irsay Official NFL Website

Federal investigators have opened a probe into the death of Jim Irsay, the longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, examining his use of prescription drugs, ketamine treatment and the role of a California-based addiction doctor who treated him in the months before he died. The inquiry, which includes a federal grand jury subpoena, has intensified scrutiny around the circumstances of Irsay's death and the fact that no official autopsy was performed.

FBI Investigation and Federal Subpoena

According to reporting by The Washington Post, the FBI issued a federal grand jury subpoena earlier this month seeking records connected to Irsay's death, his alleged use of prescription and illegal drugs, and his relationship with Dr Harry Haroutunian, an addiction specialist based in California. Investigators also spent several days in Indianapolis as part of the inquiry.

The FBI has declined to comment publicly on the investigation, which remains ongoing. However, the reported subpoena signals a widening federal interest in the medical care Irsay received and the decisions made in the period leading up to his death.

Scrutiny of Doctor Relationship and Prescriptions

Central to the FBI probe is Irsay's relationship with Dr Haroutunian, who treated him before his death and later signed his death certificate. The Washington Post reported that Haroutunian allegedly prescribed more than 200 opioid pills to Irsay in the months before a December 2023 overdose incident. Ketamine was also allegedly prescribed as part of Irsay's treatment.

Investigators are reportedly examining whether the volume and nature of these prescriptions played any role in Irsay's declining health and eventual death, as well as whether proper medical protocols were followed.

Death Certificate and Absence of Autopsy

Irsay's death certificate listed cardiac arrest caused by acute pneumonia as the primary cause of death, with two heart conditions cited as contributing factors. The certificate was signed by Haroutunian. No official autopsy was conducted, a detail that has drawn growing concern given Irsay's medical history and the subsequent federal investigation.

The lack of an autopsy has raised questions about whether all contributing factors were fully examined, particularly in light of the reported prescription drug use and prior overdose incidents.

Prior Overdose Incidents and Health History

In December 2023, police were called to Irsay's Indianapolis home at around 4:30 a.m. after he was found unresponsive and cold in bed during what authorities described as a suspected overdose. Another overdose reportedly occurred at a Miami rental home. Irsay later disputed the characterisation of the December incident, saying it was not an overdose and criticising what he described as unfair assumptions linked to his past struggles.

Irsay had long been open about battling drug and alcohol addiction, once admitting he had been to rehabilitation at least 15 times. The Colts announced in January 2024 that he was being treated for a severe respiratory illness, and the following month he said on social media that he was recovering.

Colts Respond as Legacy Comes Into Focus

The Indianapolis Colts said in a statement that they are aware of the investigation but have not been contacted by the FBI or served with any subpoenas. The team's chief legal officer, Dan Emerson, told The Washington Post that no subpoenas had been issued to him, the Colts or current employees.

Irsay, who became the Colts' owner in 1997 after his father's death, was a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in the NFL. He previously pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated in 2014, resulting in a league suspension and fine.

Over his tenure, the Colts won 258 games, captured 10 division titles, made 18 playoff appearances and won one Super Bowl, cementing Irsay's lasting impact on the franchise as federal scrutiny now surrounds the circumstances of his death.

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