INDIANAPOLIS — One of Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s earliest memories of public criticism came in third grade, when she overheard a classmate disparaging the Irsay family’s stewardship of the Colts. “The Irsays should just get the hell out of here. What are they even doing? My dad says they’re losers,” she recalled hearing, according to Irsay-Gordon.
That exchange left a lasting impression. When her father, Jim Irsay, came home that night she asked, “Why do we suck so much?” He told her that the friend probably wasn’t a true friend and added a second lesson: “It’s just part of the job,” she said. Jim Irsay died one year ago this week, and his daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — now share responsibility as co-owners of the franchise.
Irsay-Gordon took over as principal owner last year, and the experience of being publicly scrutinized has only intensified, she said. Her exposure to criticism has mounted through talk radio, social media and media coverage, the report said, and she has had to adapt to being the person ultimately accountable for the club’s results.
That accountability intensified after a difficult finish to the 2025 season. An injured quarterback and Daniel Jones’ torn Achilles played a big role in a seven-game losing streak that dropped the Colts from 8-2 to 8-9, leaving the team out of the playoffs, according to the report. The team is entering the 2026 season attempting to rebound from that late-season collapse.
The contrast between Jim Irsay’s public profile and his daughters’ previous anonymity was also evident in Irsay-Gordon’s anecdotes. She said her father was often frank and highly visible to reporters, while the daughters worked mostly behind the scenes. A recent grocery-store encounter — in which a woman recognized her and asked, “Are you her?” — underscored how public the role has become, the report said.
Facing an angry fan base has extended to formal moments, too: Irsay-Gordon said she recently had to tell fans in a news conference that she would not be “cleaning house” by firing general manager Chris Ballard after the disappointing season, the report said.
