How Carlie Irsay-Gordon is changing the game in Indianapolis
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Carlie Irsay-Gordon's hands-on approach is producing wins and making waves. Photo: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
NFL fans and insiders can't get enough of Carlie Irsay-Gordon.
Why it matters: The sideline-walking, headset-rocking Irsay heir is being credited as a catalyst for the Colts' remarkable turnaround from perennial playoff skippers to potential Super Bowl contenders.
The big picture: Her emergence as one of the most effective owners in the NFL, where men still own a majority of the teams, is also another feather in the Circle City's cap as it competes to become the women's sports capital of the world over the next 25 years.
Flashback: After longtime Colts owner Jim Irsay died in May, his daughters Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson took over as co-owners. Irsay-Gordon is also CEO.
Driving the news: Before the season started, Irsay-Gordon made it clear that she wants the Colts to be the best, and her no-nonsense approach seems to be working.
- The Colts (7-2) are on one of their best runs since the Peyton Manning era — they're top of the AFC and share the league's best record with the Patriots and Broncos.
Zoom in: Pundits have noticed and are praising Irsay-Gordon's tactics.
- Amy Trask, the first-ever woman CEO of an NFL team, told CBS Sports that Irsay-Gordon and her sisters are doing everything "tremendously well."
Case in point: Pro Football Talk editor-in-chief Mike Florio recently said that other owners can learn from her and may start copying her in-game habits.
- "She's on the sidelines for the games. Not standing with arms crossed, as most owners who venture down from the caviar-and-champagne level for the post-game celebration do," he writes. "She's involved. Headset on. Listening. Watching. Talking. Working."
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton named her October's "powerhouse performer of the month" on his podcast and pondered if even more women need leadership roles in sports.
- The fashion enthusiast also complemented her sideline style, quipping that she shows up to games "fresher than a peppermint."
- "She provides an element of a different culture that she's bringing to the table. I don't know from the inside, but from the outside, the culture has definitely shifted," Newton said. "She is making her presence felt and it's leading to wins."
Inside the locker room: Colts safety Cam Bynum called her the "most involved" owner he's ever seen.
- "I've only been in the NFL … going on my fifth year, so I don't have too much experience. She's just so involved in everything," he said in September. "During [organized team activities], she was sitting in the defensive meeting with a notebook. Same notebook that we're writing in, writing the installs, asking me, 'what's the coverage on this play?'"
Between the lines: Her presence is making an impact with fans, too. She's signing autographs at road games and even became a popular Halloween costume this spooky season.
- In addition to "Good Morning Football" host Jamie Erdahl nailing the look, fans young and old donned headsets and sunglasses of their own while trick-or-treating.
The intrigue: According to Google Trends data, Irsay-Gordon has spent the season as the second-most-searched owner in the NFL, behind Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and just ahead of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The bottom line: As the Colts' impressive season rolls on, Irsay-Gordon may be in the running for team MVP alongside Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor.
Go deeper: Colts franchise remains a family business