Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay disputed reports of him overdosing last December.
Paramedics found Irsay unresponsive in his home when answering a 911 call. The police report categorized the incident as a suspected overdose.
However, Irsay recently denied that classification to Fox 59’s Mike Chappell.
“It wasn’t an overdose,’’ Irsay said. “I don’t know why when you have your name in the paper in the past, people throw that out there quickly. I don’t pay attention to it all that much, but I don’t think it’s fair.”
Irsay said he was “treating a leg injury” that resulted in a hematoma. He’s currently home resting from surgery on his leg and back that required a long hospital stay.
“It’s unfortunate because they really don’t have the information in that speed of time when you’re checking (someone) into the hospital and it’s an overdose or it’s this or that,” Irsay said. “It wasn’t an overdose. The bottom line was the leg needed to be taken care of immediately.”
Irsay, who has openly discussed his struggles with addiction to alcohol and painkillers, said he’s undergone 27 surgeries within the last decade. The Colts announced in January that Irsay was being treated for “a severe respiratory illness.”
Because of his health issues, Irsay won’t attend this week’s NFL Draft in Detroit. The 64-year-old will keep in contract with key decision-makers virtually.
“I could go to the draft room,” Irsay said. “It’s just that in sitting and talking with the doctors and Chris [Ballard] and Shane [Steichen], it doesn’t serve a real purpose for me.”