Jim Irsay Bobblehead, Shirt to Honor Late Colts Owner Revealed in Photo Before Opener

The Indianapolis Colts are honoring former team owner Jim Irsay, who died in May at the age of 65, in a number of ways for Sunday's season opener against the Miami Dolphins.

Indianapolis will give away shirts that say "For The Boss," as well as bobbleheads of Irsay for fans who are in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium. What's more, a mural was created honoring his memory and legacy that will be on display:

The Colts released a statement when Irsay died that said, in part, "We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed."

The statement also focused on his philanthropy and impact across the state of Indiana.

Irsay launched Kicking the Stigma in 2020 to help raise awareness about mental health. He also had a well-known love for music, which will be a featured part of the Colts' efforts to honor him during the 2025 campaign.

Head coach Shane Steichen will present a blue guitar with the team logo and the words "Win For Jim" on it to a player of his choosing during the Saturday night team meeting before games throughout the 2025 campaign. 

"Even though he's not physically with us anymore, he's always with us in spirit," Steichen said, per JJ Stankevitz of the team's official website. "And that's part of him traveling with us, every game."

Steichen chose longtime team captain DeForest Buckner for the first guitar.

This will be the first season for the Colts without Irsay as the team owner since he inherited the franchise from his father in 1997. Irsay also became the youngest general manager in franchise history in 1984 when the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

He helped build the Colts into one of the NFL's best teams for extended stretches with star players such as Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Marvin Harrison Sr., Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James and Dwight Freeney, among others.

The Colts also won the Super Bowl during the 2006 campaign as the football highlight of Irsay's tenure.

Now they will pursue another Lombardi Trophy in 2025 as they continue to honor his legacy during the season.