Colts owner Jimmy Irsay was suspended for the first six games of the regular season and fined $500,000 by Roger Goodell after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to one misdemeanor count of driving while impaired.

Goodell had been waiting for the case to be adjudicated before handing Irsay his suspension. He had already met with Irsay, who was arrested in March. Irsay was penalized under the personal conduct penalty. He is eligible to return following the Colts game against the Texans on Oct. 9

“In retrospect, I now know that the incident opened my eyes to issues in my life that needed addressing and helped put me on the path to regain my health,” Irsay said in a statement where he accepted Goodell’s punishment and apologized for his actions. “I truly hope and pray that my episode will help in some small measure to diminish the stigma surrounding our country’s terrible and deadly problem of addiction. It is a disease like other progressive, terminal diseases-one that can only be successfully treated by understanding, committed hard work, and spiritual growth.”

“Please know I am firmly committed to staying on my path to good health and I look forward to a great season.”

Irsay’s suspension begins Wednesday at 5 p.m. He may not be present at the club’s facilities or represent the team at league meetings or league events or do media interviews. The league is also shutting down his social media interactions during his suspension. Irsay is active on his Twitter account.

“I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Irsay. “We discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard.”