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- Indianapolis Colts' owner now says his DUI arrest was because he is a "rich, white billionaire."
- In 2014, Irsay pled guilty to one misdemeanor count and was suspended for six months from the NFL.
- The billionaire said in a newly-released interview that he only pled guilty to "get it over with."
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said he was "prejudiced against" for being a "rich, white billionaire" when he was arrested on a DUI charge in 2014.
In an interview on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," Irsay discussed his 2014 DUI, saying he viewed his status and wealth as the real reason for the arrest.
"I am prejudiced against because I'm a rich, white billionaire," Irsay said. "If I'm just the average guy down the block, they're not pulling me in."
Irsay has a history of substance abuse and has openly talked about his struggles in the past.
On March 16, 2014, Irsay was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. Police said they found prescription drugs in pill bottles in his car.
Later that year, the Colts owner pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Irsay was fined $500,000 and suspended for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
But Irsay said in the "Real Sports" interview that he only pled guilty to "get it over with." He also said he failed the field sobriety test after he was pulled over not because he was intoxicated, but because of a recent hip surgery.
"The arrest was wrong. I had just had hip surgery and been in the car for 45 minutes, and what, they ask me to walk the line? Are you kidding me? I could barely walk at all," Irsay said.
Irsay has a net worth of $4.3 billion, according to Forbes. He inherited the Colts from his father, Robert Irsay, in 1997.
The 64-year-old billionaire's comments have drawn criticism from some members of the sports community.
"His comments exemplify exactly what people think NFL owners are: detached, a total lack of awareness of their privilege, and the flippancy of how they discuss their privilege," Molly Qerim said on ESPN's "First Take."
Irsay has since threatened to sue "First Take" on X.
"I don't care what it sounds like. It's the truth," Irsay said in the "Real Sports" interview. "I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth."