Inside the Colts’ Secret Drive to Honor Jim Irsay That Could Change Their Season Forever

There’s nothing quite like the weight a loss can place on a team’s shoulders—especially when it’s someone as monumental as Jim Irsay, the Colts’ longtime owner and a titan for Indiana. The locker room feels it deeply, and Zaire Franklin, the defensive captain, isn’t shy about saying just how much that loss has reignited the Colts’ fire for the 2025 season. It’s not just about winning games anymore; it’s about honoring a legacy, playing with heart, and channeling the profound impact Irsay had on the city and beyond. Last season’s 8-9 finish felt like a tease—just a handful of plays from a playoff berth—and Franklin’s belief this year’s squad is set to exceed expectations, fueled by passion and purpose, is the kind of motivation that turns potential into greatness. LEARN MORE

The Colts finished 8-9 last season, but Franklin looks at that team as a couple plays away from being a playoff team. And he says this year’s team should be better. And playing with some extra motivation.The death of longtime Colts owner Jim Irsay had an impact in the locker room, and defensive captain Zaire Franklin says he and his teammates want to honor Irsay with their play.“I would really just say we’re a team with a purpose,” Franklin said. “With the passing of Jim Irsay, a great man who’s done not only so much for the city, but the state of Indiana, this season, and just honoring his legacy and continuing to bring his dream to fruition, is definitely extreme motivation. It’s one of those things that gets everybody on the same page where everybody is fighting and pulling in the same direction, for the same purpose.”Franklin said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Irsay’s death put the Colts’ purpose for 2025 into focus: They want to play in a way that would make Irsay proud.