Dallas Clark reflects on the Colts owner Jim Irsay’s influence after burial

Nashville, Tenn. And Indianapolis Colts and the state of Indiana as a whole lost one of its most important contributors in owner Jim Irsay last month after fighting for health issues.

Dallas Clark, who played nine seasons with Colts and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2006, was one of many past and current players, leaders and coaches who attended Irsay’s funeral.

While everyone remains in mourning, Clark said he really understood what Irsay meant for Colts and football games after learning more than he could ever among his peers.

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“At his funeral, just crazy the things I learned about him,” Clark told Pakinomist Digital while attending Tight End University once again as one of the most important legends among the group of more than 80 participants. “About being the youngest general manager, and it was all kind of sensible. This man has lived this football game every day in his life, and we were just as honored to represent him and his family. What a huge, huge loss.”

Clark remembered the time he became draft of Colts when general manager Bill Polian and Front Office took the star out of Iowa 23. Overall in 2003. While he was just trying to make a good impression on his new NFL team, Clark also got to see the type of owner Irsay was.

“Didn’t understand it at first, as ‘I don’t know why you need me. You are freaking loaded,'” Clark said of becoming a draft Indianapolis. “I remember coming into the first time and was like ‘this will be interesting.’

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“But to be around [Irsay]When he saw the influence he had on town. He really loved his players and took care of us and we were not just an investment, we were not just a page concert. He lived Colts Football. “

Irsay took ownership of the Colts in 1995 after a legal battle after his father’s death. Before then, Irsay was the general manager of the team from 1982 to 1996 and became NFL’s youngest owner at the age of 37.

Since then, the Colts have had massive success with Peyton Manning as their quarterback, but they have been in Flux since Manning left the team and Andrew Luck suddenly withdrew.

Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, speaks to the fans at Reggie Wayne’s induction in Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Apart from worrying about his Colts, Clark knew how much Irsay meant to society and it wasn’t a magnificent screen every time he did.

“He was the epitome of what gave back, what was really caring, really embraced the state of Indiana, the whole Colts Nation, the organization,” Clark said. “I hope that all owners have learned something from him, about him, and how to handle yourself and how you are a real owner of representing your team. The power he wanted and the influence he wanted – so many things he did under the radar. It was the beautiful thing about him: He did not try to get himself in the limelight or something like that.

While Clark is sad that “Mr. Irsay” will no longer be in Lucas Oil Stadium on Gameeday, he is excited to see how his three daughters-Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson-Eern their father and run the team in their own way.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, on the right, gives retiring Dallas Clark a Colts jersey at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center Indianapolis. (TMB/ICON SMI/CORBIS/ICON SPORTSWire via Getty Images)

“I know the girls will do a phenomenal job of honoring him and keeping his legacy strong in front of their direction, but also making it their own and finding ways to make it their own and change things for good,” Clark said.

“The influence he had on so many people will be a tough one. So glad they will honor him the first week, put him in the honor of the ring, and it will be a special day.”