The Indianapolis Colts said Thursday that they are “aware” of an FBI investigation into the death of the team’s former longtime owner, Jim Irsay, last year.
“We are aware of the investigation, but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or been served with any subpoenas,” the Colts said in a statement Thursday.
The team’s statement came shortly after The Washington Post reported on the investigation, citing a federal grand jury subpoena it said it had reviewed. According to The Post, federal investigators are examining Irsay’s drug use — “prescription” and illegal — and his relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian, a California-based recovery doctor.
Irsay died at 65 in May 2025. His cause of death, as listed on his death certificate, was cardiac arrest caused by acute pneumonia and heart problems. No autopsy was performed.
Haroutunian, who was overseeing Irsay’s treatment when he died in Beverly Hills, Calif., signed Irsay’s death certificate.
“I dedicated 18 months of my life to try to care for him … as a brother,” Haroutunian told The Post last year. “We did everything we could to make him as comfortable as possible.”
Haroutunian prescribed Irsay with opioids and ketamine in the months leading up to his death, according to The Post.
Ketamine can be prescribed legally and has “accepted medical uses for short-term sedation and anesthesia,” per the DEA, but it was not listed on Irsay’s death certificate. Ketamine has “hallucinogenic effects,” according to the DEA, and its use in substance abuse treatment remains controversial. Actor Matthew Perry died at 54 in Los Angeles in October 2023, and his cause of death was listed as “the acute effects of ketamine,” per the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. Five people, including two doctors, were charged and pleaded guilty in Perry’s death.
Now, the FBI is taking a closer look at Irsay’s death and his connection with Haroutunian. Federal investigators traveled to Indianapolis this month to interview people who were close to Irsay in his final years, per The Post.
The FBI declined to comment when reached by The Athletic on Thursday.
“Per FBI policy, I can’t confirm or deny the existence of any investigation,” FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho said.
Haroutunian did not immediately respond to emails and calls.
Irsay’s substance abuse struggles were well-documented. One of his most infamous incidents was in March 2014. Irsay was stopped by the police for driving erratically near his home in Carmel, Ind., just outside of Indianapolis. The police found roughly $29,000 cash in Irsay’s car that he had mostly been carrying in a briefcase and laundry bag, where officers also found several bottles of prescription drugs. Irsay failed several field sobriety tests and later pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The NFL fined Irsay $500,000 and suspended him for the first six games of the 2014 campaign for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, his eldest daughter, took over the franchise’s leadership responsibilities during Irsay’s suspension. Irsay-Gordon, 45, became the Colts’ principal owner after her father died, and her sisters, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, became co-owners.
“We continue to grieve the loss of our Dad, a man defined not only by his role as owner of the Colts, but also by his resilience, his personal struggles, and his deep love for family, friends, and community,” the daughters said in statement last year after The Post reported that Irsay relapsed and overdosed multiple times before his death.
“Throughout his life, our Dad was open about his battles with addiction and mental health. He never claimed to be perfect. Instead, he used his voice to reduce stigma and advocate for those facing similar challenges, with honesty, vulnerability, and compassion.”
The Irsay family launched Kicking The Stigma, a mental health initiative, in 2020. The organization’s mission is to “raise awareness around mental health and combat the feelings of shame associated with mental illness,” including substance abuse, per its website.
Irsay inherited the Colts from his late father, Robert, who moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis overnight in March 1984. Jim Irsay eventually became the league’s youngest general manager at 24 and the youngest owner at 37. The Colts made two Super Bowl appearances during his stewardship and stood atop the football world with a Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears during the 2006 season.
