Peyton Manning Speaks On The Passing Of Jim Irsay

By Garrett Armbrust

Colts legend and VFL Peyton Manning says that the recently deceased Jim Irsay “turned Indianapolis into a football city.”

Manning, who played 14 seasons in the city, remembered the Colts owner and spoke about what he meant to the city yesterday on NFL Live.

"When I got there, Indiana basketball, [auto] racing, the Indy 500 -- that was it," said Manning.

Manning believes that Irsay’s hiring of Bill Polian as GM changed the complexity of the franchise.

“Right before your eyes, Indianapolis became the biggest football town. High school football goes up. Fans wear more jerseys to a Colts game than any other stadium out there. And that was [because of] Jim's commitment. That was his commitment to the city that he was going to bring them a winner once he took over, and he did."

Manning was the leader of the 2007 Super Bowl team, helping bring the franchise its first title since 1971 when the team was in Baltimore.

"I'll be indebted for what he did for me, giving me my start,” Manning added. “And certainly, [we] parted ways. But five years later, after I retire, he dedicates a statue in my name and puts me in the Ring of Honor and insisted that I fly to Canton, Ohio on the Colts' plane."

RIP Jim Irsay.