Colts to Pay Tribute to Jim Irsay with Custom Guitar in 2025 Season
For the 2025 season, the Indianapolis Colts are dedicating their efforts and performance to honor the late Jim Irsay, the former Owner and CEO of the team. This heartfelt tribute is encapsulated in the mantra “Win For Jim,” a sentiment that signifies the profound impact Irsay had on the organization and the Indianapolis community.
During a team meeting at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon shared her father’s legacy with the players, emphasizing the values and principles he embodied throughout his extraordinary life. Following her poignant address, head coach Shane Steichen unveiled a special tribute to Jim Irsay – a custom “Win For Jim” guitar adorned with the Colts’ horseshoe logo.
This unique guitar, meticulously designed in collaboration with the Purdue University Guitar Lab and crafted by Purdue alum Noah Scott, serves as a symbol of remembrance and reverence for Irsay’s profound love for music. Steichen, reflecting on his time spent in Irsay’s office surrounded by iconic guitars from rock ‘n’ roll history, was inspired to create this distinctive tribute in honor of a man who meant so much to him, the Colts, and the city of Indianapolis.
Before each Colts game this season, a chosen player will have the privilege of carrying the guitar into the stadium, a ritual that aims to uphold Irsay’s enduring spirit and influence within the team. The player selected to bear this symbolic guitar into each game will be determined during the team’s Saturday night meetings, with the inaugural recipient being longtime team captain DeForest Buckner for Week 1.
The presence of the “Win For Jim” guitar in the Colts’ locker room serves as a perpetual reminder of the team’s dedication to honoring Irsay’s memory throughout the 2025 season. Steichen expressed that even though Irsay is no longer physically with them, his spirit continues to resonate within the team, guiding and inspiring them in every game they play.
This touching tribute encapsulates the deep respect and admiration the Colts hold for Jim Irsay, underscoring his lasting legacy and profound influence on the organization. Through the symbol of the custom guitar and the mantra “Win For Jim,” the Colts are committed to upholding Irsay’s values and dedication, ensuring that his memory remains a guiding force throughout the season.