Colts honor late owner with ‘win for Jim’ mantra, Ring of Honor induction

INDIANAPOLIS — Leading up to Week 1, the message around Horseshoe Headquarters was simple — win for Jim. The Colts did exactly that on Sunday afternoon with a dominant victory over the Miami Dolphins.

With the roof and window open at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts snapped a 12-year winless streak of season-openers, and everyone felt like the team’s late owner Jim Irsay was looking down on them with pride.

“He’s not with us physically, but he’s definitely with us spiritually everywhere we go,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said postgame. “And so, to win like we did today, with him watching down on us was awesome. With Mr. Irsay going into the Ring of Honor, it was only fitting to get that done today.”

Irsay, who died back in May, became the 20th inductee into the Colts Ring of Honor, joining his father as well as many of his beloved former players and staff enshrined in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Peyton Manning joined Colts Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon on the field to give heartfelt speeches at halftime, while Owner and Executive Vice President Casey Foyt and Owner, Chief Brand Officer and President of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation Kalen Jackson unveiled their father’s navy blue jacket adorned with the franchise’s iconic horseshoe logo.

“He was in the locker room after games, both home and away,” Manning said. “He loved the Colts, the horseshoe, and was the kind of owner every player dreams of playing for. He didn’t just own the Colts, he bound us all together.”

After the win, Steichen gave out three game balls, one for each of Irsay’s daughters and now co-owners of the Colts.

“I just kind of talked about what their dad meant to this organization,” Steichen said. “Kind of just hit on it a little bit. Then, just him raising those three daughters and doing it the right way, and setting them up for a moment to take over this team. I thought it was just really special and really fitting for them being full-time owners now to get a game ball.”

That emotional gesture was one that stuck with the team, as they continue to play the rest of the year for their beloved former team owner.

“That’s the purpose of our entire season, so being able to come out 1-0 to open the season, it means a lot,” said cornerback Kenny Moore II.

The Colts hope to build upon their success next Sunday when they host the Denver Broncos in Indianapolis.