Colts owner Jim Irsay procures over 10,000 surgical masks to aid in fight against coronavirus

By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

Colts owner Jim Irsay has joined the Patriots’ Robert Kraft as the latest NFL executive to procure a key piece of medical equipment to aid besieged hospitals in the battle against COVID-19.

Irsay announced via his

Just procured 10,000+ masks ( N-95) and am passing them along to Indiana State Dept. of Health for distribution as most urgently needed.#INthistogether

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) April 5, 2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twitter account on Sunday that he procured over 10,000 N95 surgical masks and donated them to the Indiana State Department of Health. He follows the lead of the Krafts, who embarked on a movie-like journey with the governments of Mass. and China, as well as a number of influential business and legal figures, to purchase nearly 2 million N95 masks and fly them back to the U.S. on the Patriots’ team plane. Patriots president Jonathan Kraft detailed their quest for the masks in an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich last Friday.

As of midnight on Sunday, the ISDH is reporting 139 deaths and 4,944 total cases of COVID-19 in Indiana. There have been 26,191 reported tests. They are accepting donations of masks, gowns, gloves, eyewear, and any other medical equipment that can be spared.

The Patriots plane was able to fit 1.2 million masks, which flew back to Boston last Thursday. The other 500,000 will come in a later shipment. The Krafts directed 300,000 of them to New York, easily the hardest-hit state in the U.S. with 4,161 deaths and 122,911 cases due to coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 7,616 coronavirus deaths and 304,826 cases in the U.S. as of Sunday.

We tend to make fun of Irsay a lot here at 98.5 The Sports Hub. He’s quite the character. But this is a decision that shows character. It’s an objectively good gesture from the Colts owner.

Listen to Jonathan Kraft’s full interview with Toucher & Rich:

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.