The FBI is launching an investigation into Jim Irsay’s death and the doctor who provided the former Colts owner with pain pills and ketamine over the final few years of his life.
Earlier in January, a federal grand jury subpoena was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. The subpoena shows the agency is seeking information related to Irsay’s death, as well as his recent history of substance use. The investigation also seeks details about Irsay’s relationship with his longtime recovery doctor, Dr. Harry Haroutunian.
Irsay died on May 21 in Beverly Hills. His initial cause of death was ruled cardiac arrest. Irsay, 65 at the time, publicly claimed to have curbed his addiction to substances.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Jim Irsay cause of death
Irsay died on May 21, 2025 while vacationing in the Beverly Hills. The doctor who signed his death certificate, Dr. Harry Haroutunian, stated that Irsay's cause of death was caused by cardiac arrest brought on by pneumonia and heart issues.
No autopsy was performed while Beverly Hills police closed their investigation days after Irsay's death. Officers who arrived on the scene of the hotel where Irsay died said they saw no signs of drug use, a spokesman told The Washington Post. Haroutunian claimed Irsay's cause of death was natural.
In August, The Washington Post launched an investigation into Irsay's death. The publication reported that the longtime Colts owner, who had publicly claimed to have curbed his addiction to painkillers, had secretly relapsed. Irsay reportedly suffered three overdoses in the final five years of his life and had recently sought treatment from Haroutunian, a well-known California-based addiction specialist.
Under Haroutunian’s care, Irsay had access to opioid pills and ketamine. Images of pill bottles reviewed by The Washington Post showed that Haroutunian prescribed the former Colts owner more than 200 pills just days before he suffered two overdoses in December 2023.
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Jim Irsay death investigation
The FBI is investigating Irsay's death and relationship with Haroutunian, the recovery doctor who may have fueled his addiction during the final years of his life.
A federal grand jury subpoena was issued in January that shows the agency is seeking records and information related to Irsay's death. The Washington Post reported that federal agents visited Indianapolis for several days earlier in the month.
Who is Dr. Harry Haroutunian?
Irsay's recovery doctor was Dr. Harry Haroutunian. The California-based practitioner developed a reputation as an addiction specialist of the stars, serving as a physician director and national spokesperson at Betty Ford, one of the nation's preeminent addiction treatment and advocacy clinics. Among Haroutunian's most famous patients is Aerosmith lead vocalist Steven Tyler.
Affably known as "Dr. Harry", Haroutunian battled alcoholism himself before seeking treatment at the Betty Ford Center in California. He found his footing in the years after, eventually opening up his own boutique practice in Palm Springs, Calif.
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In an interview with The Washington Post, Haroutunian said he knew Irsay for more than 20 years. It's unclear when Haroutunian first started treating Irsay, who reportedly consulted myriad doctors and treatment specialists throughout his life. State records show that Haroutunian obtained his Indiana practice license in 2018.
The Washington Post reported that Haroutunian's treatment plan for Irsay involved prescribing the former Colts owner with copious amounts of pain pills. Prescriptions written by Haroutunian would arrive directly at Irsay's doorstep, according to the Post.
Irsay suffered multiple overdoses while under Haroutunian's treatment plan. The doctor also introduced Irsay to ketamine, a drug that rarely is used in addiction therapy.
“In general, the use of ketamine in people with substance use disorders is questionable,” Gerard Sanacora, a psychiatrist and professor at Yale medical school, told The Post. “It really should be reserved for the most extreme cases and done under the most stringent protocol and follow-up.”
Haroutunian regularly delivered the ketamine himself. The drug is a staple at hospitals, but only for its FDA-approved use as a general anesthetic. Research indicates ketamine could be helpful in treating depression. But it remains controversial, particularly for substance abuse patients and those living with heart conditions. The drug is also addictive, so its use in treatment must be closely monitored.
The Washington Post reported that nurses, operating under Haroutunian's orders, would inject Irsay sometimes as often as "10 to 14 times per day" with the serum. Irsay's thighs were often covered in bruises as a result of all of the injections.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor, meaning it blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate neurotransmitter in the brain, according to Caleb Alexander, MD, MS, the professor of Epidemiology and co-director of the Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness. First developed as a battlefield anesthetic during the Vietnam War, ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. However, the drug is increasingly being marketed to manage a variety of different psychiatric illnesses as well as other uses ranging from "Lyme disease to alcoholism to opioid addiction."
"As is often the case, enthusiasm and marketing have gotten ahead of the evidence," Alexander told Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health in 2024.
It's unclear how effective ketamine is in treating the wide range of conditions it has been marketed to improve. The drug also doubles as a dissociative anesthetic that can bring about hallucinations, visions, mood changes and reduced cognition.
"This is a drug that should be administered in highly controlled, highly supervised, structured clinical settings," Alexander said.
Jim Isray substance abuse
Irsay had a documented history of substance abuse. In his later years, he became an advocate for those struggling with addiction, going as far as launching the Kicking the Stigma charity to raise awareness of issues stemming from addiction and mental illness.
The longtime Colts owner dealt with hip and shoulder problems that required surgery and often led to new prescriptions for opioids.
Documented issues of Irsay's substance abuse date back to March 2014, when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and drug possession. He was found with multiple bottles of prescription medication, and prosecutors said he tested positive for oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Irsay was admitted to rehab in 2014 and suspended for six games by the NFL.
During a November 2023 appearance on HBO's "Real Sports," Irsay revealed that he had been to rehab "at least 15 times," also sharing that he once had to be revived from a near-fatal incident.
How old was Jim Isray when he died?
Irsay was 65 years old when he died. He was a little more than three weeks shy of his 66th birthday.
Who currently runs the Colts?
The Colts announced in June 2025 that Jim Irsay's three daughters would take control of the franchise following Irsay's death. Here are their respective roles:
- Carlie Irsay-Gordon: Owner & CEO
- Casey Foyt: Owner & Executive VP
- Kalen Jackson: Owner, Chief Brand Officer
Irsay-Gordon serves as the Colts' principal owner and has final say, while Foyt serves as a key decision-maker and Jackson also holds the title of president of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation in addition to her role as Chief Brand Officer.