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She’s been doing it for a while now, but given the Indianapolis Colts’ 8-2 record this season, owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has gone viral several times this year for her game-day ritual.
Irsay-Gordon, the daughter of the late Jim Irsay, is often seen on the Colts’ sideline wearing a headset, writing on her notepad and taking in everything that unfolds over 60 minutes of play. It’s a hands-on approach rarely seen from owners on gameday, yet Irsay-Gordon has made it a point for years.
Daniel Jones, who joined the team last season, has gotten to experience how Irsay-Gordon runs the organization, and he’s come away impressed — especially with her game day.
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Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon (R) watches during the 2025 NFL Preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
“It’s definitely neat,” he told Pakinomist Digital while discussing his work with FedEx’s “Power Move” campaign fresh off the team’s eighth win of the season. “Just her attention to detail, her interest in how hard she works to understand every facet of the organization. Obviously, the game on the field, the game plan, the scheme, kind of everything that goes into it. She takes a lot of time and puts in a lot of effort to get to know it, really, really understand it.”
“I know she’s said things in the past and how important it is for her to understand it all when she’s leading the organization. But yeah, I think it’s a good example for all of us players to see the owner on the sidelines like that. I think it carries a lot.”
Irsay-Gordon has previously explained why she wears a headset on the sidelines during games.
EX-NFL STAR PRAISES COLTS CO-OWNER CARLIE IRSAY-GORDON FOR HER COMMITMENT TO TEAM
“I need to learn more about this. I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of BS? Do they even know what they’re talking about?'” she told reporters. “And I think one of the things that being on the headset has really helped me learn is that the question used to be such a complex organism — a football team — and how it works. On game day, you can say, ‘Oh, that person ran that route wrong,’ when you find, ‘Oh, somebody tagged the wrong wide receiver,’ and it wasn’t really the person who called the wide receiver’s fault.
“It also helps us know, ‘Where do we need to make adjustments? What resources do we need? What do we need to fix?’ So much of it just comes down to how we operate and how things work.”
However, the adaptations go far beyond gameday.
When the Colts finished 8-9 last season, Irsay-Gordon called position groups into his office. These kinds of meetings from ownership aren’t usually good news, but it wasn’t to discipline the players.
She really wanted to know what could be solved in the organization.
Indianapolis Colts CEO and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon watches the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 28, 2025. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
“She wanted to make sure all the necessary changes were made around the building,” tight end Mo Alie-Cox told ESPN. “She just wanted to make sure we felt at home and comfortable.
“And those changes definitely happened. She asked about the cafeteria, trips — a lot of different things. It showed that she definitely cares about us as players for her to follow our advice.”
Left tackle Bernhard Raimann added: “I didn’t expect that at all.”
The passion and dedication Irsay-Gordon shows her team isn’t just felt in the building – it’s also felt by Colts fans.
This past weekend, the Colts were in Berlin, Germany, to play the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in the city, when Irsay-Gordon surprised loyal fans with a round of drinks at a local bar. She even learned to say it in German.
It’s a different approach to ownership, but one that resonates with everyone in the building — including newcomer Jones.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones throws before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 5, 2025. (AJ Mast/AP photo)
Irsay-Gordon is just one of many reasons why Jones, who will be a free agent in 2026 after signing only a one-year deal with the team, has grown to love playing in Indianapolis.
“I’d say I’ve really enjoyed it here,” he said when asked if he could see Indy as a long-term home for him. “We have a special group in the locker room. A special group of players. I really enjoy playing for these coaches, working with [head coach] Shane [Steichen] and his staff. So, like you said, Indy is a sports town. They are really passionate and support us and all the teams here.
“As for the future, I really haven’t thought about it that much. We’ve got a lot on our plate right now, but I’m really enjoying being here and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Power moves with FedEx
Jones just got back from Berlin after a win over the Atlanta Falcons and got straight to work with FedEx for their “Power Move” campaign. When asked what he would say his power move is right now, he replied, “Ripping the ball to Jonathan Taylor right now.”
Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon walks the sideline during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Taylor was just nominated for the fourth time this season for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Awards program, the fan-voted honor now in its 23rd year. Jones is a big fan of the initiative, which celebrates the best NFL performances across the league each week — not just for quarterbacks, but also for running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. And it’s hard not to include Taylor, who had another three-touchdown game overseas.
“He’s been on fire,” Jones said of Taylor. “It seems like every week he shows up and tops the week before and [is] super, super consistent for us running the ball. Those explosive runs, especially in the second half, when we get into these games where they’ve worn him down a little bit, he finds a seam and hits one. I think the offensive line obviously deserves a lot of credit with that stuff as well. But he’s been incredible, so I’ll definitely be pulling for him. He’s got my vote for FedEx Ground Player of the Year, which I know they’ll do again this year.”
