Reggie Wayne had a special relationship with Jim Irsay, who went beyond being the owner of the Colts and into a familial realm with the Ring of Honor wide receiver.
Wayne, who's now in his fourth year back with the organization as wide receivers coach, said Irsay's death last week, to him, was "like losing a family member."
"It was times where I felt like J.I. treated me like I was one of his sons, even though he didn't have any," Wayne said. "It's kind of funny because that's part of the conversation me and Edge (Edgerrin James) had – it was like we were his sons. Like, he would have done anything for us. So, when you lose something like that, it definitely shocks the soul."
Wayne spoke to the media on Wednesday to share his memories, stories and perspective regarding Irsay. But as he answered the last question he was asked – centered around what he hoped current players on the Colts should know about Irsay – he was overcome with emotion.
"I told the receivers," Wayne said, wiping back tears. "I said, 'A lot of y'all don't really know him. He would have done anything for anybody. He would have gave the clothes off his back.'
"I said, 'Y'all don't really know him.' And luckily, like all (of) them dudes, they've just been here, right? So, you don't know nothing else. But I said, 'He cared about his players. He cared about his team, cared about the city.' And it wasn't just the players, he cared about people in the building. Like, he was that dude.
"And I told them, I said straight up, 'Man, y'all don't really know him, but y'all got to push your (butt) for him because he would have did that for y'all.' So yeah, that's what I told them.
"I said, 'Man, y'all got homework to do, man. Like read about him, learn about him, so you really know the type of person he was.'"
Several Colts veterans were fortunate enough to really know the type of person Irsay was. Among them who shared their perspectives and stories on Wednesday were cornerback Kenny Moore II (with the Colts since 2017), defensive end Tyquan Lewis (2018), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (2020) and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (2020).
Here's some of what each player said on Wednesday:
Kenny Moore II
"Being able to see him after games — any interaction the team has had with Mr. Irsay and his family has been beautiful. I think his spirit and his energy was always felt. I know we'll do a good job honoring him."
"I began to realize over my career that this was his life. It's what he always wanted to talk about — the glory days and how he wanted to re-live those moments again. I think that's, as a player, that's our task every day to go out and make sure we get that for him."
"I think every time that I spoke to him, he was like, if you need anything just let me know. I think as a player, knowing that things were taken care of if it ever came that time that you needed a question answered or you wanted something done, it was always his task and his leadership was always felt."
"I had a deal go on, one particular season, I had a death in my family before we played a team and he was able to align some travel to where I was able to see my family for just that day. I was able to attend the funeral on a work day and just giving me that time to go back and see my family and have that time with a death in my family, that's something that'll always be important for me. Because not all times we can be around family — we know the sacrifices we make as players in this league. But having a family-oriented guy and having a guy that values certain moments like that, I was able to live that moment. I'm forever thankful and that's something I'll cherish each day."
Tyquan Lewis
"After the games, whether we won or lost, Jim was always with us. He'll stroll in and if we won or lost, whether it was a big win or a huge loss, it was always about the players. That was the thing I loved the most about Jim — it was always the players, the team, the organization, the family."
Lewis also pointed to a powerful moment in 2021, when after beating the New England Patriots in December, Irsay dedicated the game ball to center Ryan Kelly and his wife Emma, who tragically lost their daughter Mary Kate that month. And Lewis also mentioned Irsay, after the Colts' win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to end the 2024 season, giving game balls to two retiring longtime staffers: Assistant video director John Starliper and senior head athletic trainer Dave Hammer, both of whom were with the Colts for their inaugural season in Indianapolis in 1984.
"Just having an owner like Jim was amazing," Lewis said. "I'm forever thankful for him."