Jim Irsay calls presenting Marvin Harrison at Hall of Fame “the greatest honor” he’s received in football

When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts, there’s no bigger fan than owner Jim Irsay. He’s had an up-close view of the team for over four decades, but he still gets very excited about his team’s accomplishments.

This weekend, that means the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, when the Colts will have both Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison enshrined in Canton among the game’s all-time greats. That in itself is special enough for Irsay, but then Harrison asked the Colts owner to present the wideout at the enshrinement ceremony.

“It’s the greatest honor I have personally ever received in my almost 50 years in football,’’ Irsay told CBS4’s Mike Chappell on Thursday night. “I can’t tell you what it means to be sitting here next to him. It’s very kind of him. I’m humbled.’’

Irsay was the one who got to remove Marvin Harrison’s jacket and put the brand new gold jacket on him last night, and the owner was beaming.

Saturday night will be an even more special night, as Harrison and Dungy are both formally enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Irsay will present Harrison, and then he’ll be left to simply enjoy the festivities. Several former (and current) Colts players - including Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Dwight Freeney, Gary Brackett, Brandon Stokley, Ryan Diem, Robert Mathis, and Adam Vinatieri - will be in attendance, and it will be a night full of celebrating and reminiscing. In fact, Tony Dungy told WISH-TV’s Anthony Calhoun that Irsay is personally paying for and hosting a post-enshrinement party Saturday night for all of Harrison and Dungy’s 400+ guests. That’s impressive, but it just goes to show once again how special this event is to Jim Irsay and the Colts franchise. Two of their all-time greats are joining football legends, and that’s certainly something to celebrate.