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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 ritual.
Irsay-Gordon, the daughter of the late Jim Irsay, is often seen on the Colts sideline wearing a helmet, writing on her notepad and taking in everything that happens during 60 minutes of play. It’s a hands-on approach rarely seen from owners on game days, but Irsay-Gordon has been making a point about it for years.
Daniel Jones, who joined the team this past offseason, got a firsthand look at how Irsay-Gordon runs the organization, and he came away impressed, especially with his game routine.
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Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon (right) watches 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 cool, for sure,” he told PK Press Club 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 play on the field, the game plan, the plan, kind of everything that goes into that. She takes a lot of time and puts a lot of effort into learning to know it, really, really understanding it.
“I know she’s said things in the past and how important it is for her to understand everything when she’s running the organization. But yeah, I think for all of us players it sets a great example to see the owner on the sidelines like that. I think it carries a lot of weight.”
Irsay-Gordon has previously explained why she wears a helmet on the sidelines during games.
EX-NFL STAR COMMENDS COLTS CO-OWNER CARLIE IRSAY-GORDON FOR HER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE TEAM
“I need to learn more about this. I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of bullshit? Do they even know what they’re talking about?'” she told reporters. “And I think one of the things that the helmet really helped me learn is that, to answer the previous question, it’s 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 out, ‘Oh, someone tagged the wrong wide receiver,’ and it wasn’t really the wide receiver’s fault. It was the person who ran it. called.
“It also helps us know, ‘Where do we need to make changes? What resources do we need? What do we need to fix?’ A lot of it depends on how we operate and how things work.”
The adjustments go well beyond the game, however.
When the Colts finished 8-9 last season, Irsay-Gordon called position groups to his office. This kind of meeting between owners isn’t usually good news, but it wasn’t about disciplining the players.
She sincerely wanted to know what could be fixed within the organization.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon, CEO and owner of the Indianapolis Colts, watches the game against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half 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,” Mo Alie-Cox told ESPN. “She just wanted to make sure we felt at home and comfortable.
“And those changes definitely happened. She was asking questions about the cafeteria, traveling – a bunch of different things. It showed that she really cared about us as players that she would take our advice.”
Added left tackle Bernhard Raimann: “I didn’t expect that at all.”
The passion and dedication Irsay-Gordon shows his team is not only felt in the building, it extends to Colts fans as well.
Last weekend, the Colts were in Berlin, Germany to play the first-ever NFL regular season game in the city when Irsay-Gordon surprised his 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 become a free agent in 2026 after signing just a one-year contract with the team, has come to love playing in Indianapolis.
“I will say I really enjoyed it here,” he said when asked if he might consider 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 its staff. And then, like you said, Indy is a sports town. They are really passionate and supportive of us and all the teams here.
“As far as the future goes, I haven’t really thought about it much. We have 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 returned from Berlin after a win over the Atlanta Falcons and got straight to work with FedEx for its “Power Move” campaign. When asked what his power move would be right now, he replied: “Get the ball to Jonathan Taylor now.”
Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon walks on the sideline during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 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 NFL’s best performances across the league every 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 on the road.
“He was on fire,” Jones said of Taylor. “It seems like every week he shows up and dominates the week before and [is] super, super consistent for us running the ball. Those explosive runs, especially in the second half, when you get into those games where they wore him down a little bit, he finds a seam and pops one. I think the offensive line obviously deserves a lot of credit for those kinds of things as well. But he’s been amazing, so I’ll definitely be pulling for him. He has my vote for FedEx Ground Player of the Year, and I know they will do it again this year. »
