Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks at a Ring of Honor induction ceremony for Tarik Glenn on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, during a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Photo from USA TODAY Network.

By Joel A. Erickson and Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

This story will update.

INDIANAPOLIS — The FBI is investigating the death of late Colts owner Jim Irsay, the Washington Post reported Thursday, Jan. 22, citing their reporters’ review of a federal grand jury subpoena that centers on records relating to his death, substance use and his relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian, a California doctor.

Irsay died in May 2025, and his death certificate, signed by Haroutunian, listed the franchise owner’s cause of death as cardiac arrest caused by acute pneumonia, with two heart conditions as contributing factors. Irsay was in Beverly Hills receiving treatment from Haroutunian at the time of his death.

The FBI reportedly visited Indianapolis in January and interviewed people close to Irsay in the final years of his life, according to the Post.

The Colts released a statement to IndyStar that indicated the team has not been a part of the interview process.

“We are aware of the investigation but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or served any subpoenas,” the statement read.

According to the Post’s reporting, Haroutunian provided Irsay with large opioid prescriptions in the last two years of his life and began prescribing ketamine later in 2024.

Ketamine is approved by the FDA for use in hospitals as a general anesthetic, but it can also be legally prescribed off-label for depression and other mental health issues. Ketamine can induce a state of sedation, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and can produce dissociative sensations and hallucinations.

The drug produces a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, according to the DEA. Ketamine was not identified on Irsay’s death certificate as a potential cause of death; police in Beverly Hills, where Irsay died, did not suspect overdose as a cause of death.

Ketamine is the same substance implicated in the 2023 drowning of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry. Five people were charged in connection with Perry’s death, including two physicians.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: “Death of Colts owner Jim Irsay being investigated by FBI, per report”