Reggie Wayne breaks down while reflecting on Jim Irsay: 'He was that dude'

Reggie Wayne broke down in tears while reflecting on the late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Colts wide receivers coach and former Colts wide receiver explained the impact Irsay made on him and the community.

“I told the receivers, I said, ‘A lot of y’all don’t really know him.’ He would’ve did anything for anybody,” Reggie Wayne said. “He really gave the clothes off his back. I said, ‘Y’all don’t really know him.’ And luckily, like all them dudes (the Colts wide receivers), they’ve just been here. So you don’t know nothing else. But he cared about his players, he cared about his team, he cared about the city.

Reggie Wayne was very emotional talking about his friend, Colts owner Jim Irsay.

"He cared about his players. He cared about his team. He cared about the city." pic.twitter.com/nwbrHbOY8g

— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) May 28, 2025

“It wasn’t just the players, he cared about people in the building. He was that dude. And I told them, ‘Y’all got homework to do, man. Read about him. Learn about him, so you really know the type of person he was.’”

Reggie Wayne knew Jim Irsay very well as he played wide receiver for the Colts from 2001 to 2014. The Colts selected Wayne in the first round (No. 30 overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft, and he had a memorable career. Wayne was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, named to the All-Pro Second Team twice and helped the Colts win the Super Bowl during the 2006 season. In 2022, Wayne returned to Indianapolis to be the Colts wide receivers coach.

Irsay died in his sleep on Wednesday, May 21. He became the sole owner of the Colts after his father, Robert Irsay, died in 1997. Along with seeing the Colts win a Super Bowl, Jim Irsay oversaw the Colts drafting multiple legendary players such as Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning.

“I think everybody knows his biggest characteristic,” Wayne said, per WISH-TV. “I mean, he had the biggest heart in the city, right? I think we all know how caring he was. How easy he was as far as giving. I’ve always said, to a lot of people in the city, kids, and all that stuff, they think the athletes are the real heroes. Nah, we were just Robin. He was the Batman. I think he was definitely the heart of the city.”