Carlie Irsay-Gordon Explained

Carlie Irsay-Gordon (born circa 1981^[1]) is the vice chair and co-owner of the Indianapolis Colts. The granddaughter of team owners Robert Irsay (1923–1997) and the eldest daughter of Jim Irsay (b. 1959), Irsay-Gordon has been a top Colts executive since 2008.

Biography

Early years

Irsay-Gordon attended Skidmore College, where she studied religious studies and geoscience.^[2] She also rode competitively until the age of 20, on a horse named London Times.^[3] Irsay-Gordon began coursework towards a PhD in clinical psychology through Argosy University but did not complete her boards.^{[4] [5]}

Colts executive

Irsay-Gordon first worked for the Colts in the ticket office and was subsequently involved in the marketing department and the strategies used by the sales team and ticket office.^[6]

Irsay-Gordon has represented the team at ownership meetings since 2004.^[7] She was made a team vice-president in 2008.^[8]

In March 2012, Irsay-Gordon and her sisters Casey Foyt (born February 10, 1983) and Kalen Irsay-Jackson were announced as co-owners of the Colts, with the two younger sisters officially added as vice-presidents.^[9] Irsay-Gordon's father, Jim Irsay, has stated that he intends the team to entirely pass to his daughters.^[10] Irsay-Gordon was then named as chair of the Colts in March 2014 shortly after Jim Irsay was arrested and entered a rehabilitation facility for drug use.

In 2016, Irsay-Gordon joined the NFL Digital Media Committee.^[11] She continues in a similar capacity into 2024 as a member of the NFL's Media Owned and Operated Committee, which oversees operations of the NFL Network and NFL.com.^[12] She is also a member of the league's Security and Fan Conduct Committee and on the board of the NFL Player Care Foundation, which provides social services to former players of the NFL.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Irsay-Gordon later recalled that she and her sister Kalen began to plan to focus the Colts' charitable attention on a single initiative, and selected a program on mental health, which became known as Kicking the Stigma. This launched in May 2021.^[13]

Personal

Irsay-Gorden lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Zach Gordon. The couple have three children.

The Indianapolis Business Journal named her to their "Forty Under 40" list in 2015.

Notes and References

1. Walter Gutowski (ed.), Baltimore Colts: 1983 Media Guide. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Team, p. 9 lists Carlie Irsay as 2-years old at the time of the book's publication in August 1983.
2. Web site: Holder. Stephen. Meet Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the woman now running the Colts. 2021-04-20. USA TODAY. en-US.
3. Web site: Rubino. Michael. 18 September 2015. Carlie Irsay-Gordon's Office. live. 2021-07-13. Indianapolis Monthly. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713094901/https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/arts-and-culture/sports/carlie-irsay-gordons-office . 2021-07-13 .
4. Web site: Harry. Lou. 2015 Forty Under 40: Carlie Irsay-Gordon. 2021-04-20. Indianapolis Business Journal. 29 January 2015 . en-US.
5. Web site: Rubino. Michael. 17 September 2015. Blue Blood. live. 2021-07-13. Indianapolis Monthly. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713094900/https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/arts-and-culture/sports/blue-blood . 2021-07-13 .
6. Web site: Holder. Stephen. 31 March 2014. Carlie Irsay-Gordon: The woman now running the Colts. 2021-07-13. Journal and Courier. en-US.
7. Web site: 2014-04-03. Irsay-Gordon is leading the way in Indy. 2021-04-20. ESPN.com. en.
8. 2016 Indianapolis Colts Media Guide. Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Colts, 2016; p. 8.
9. 2016 Indianapolis Colts Media Guide, p. 7.
10. Web site: Chappell. Mike. 17 April 2014. Irsay family in firm control of Colts' ownership. 2021-07-13. Journal and Courier. en-US.
11. Alex Brown, "Colts Vice Chairs Named to NFL Committees," Inside Indiana Business, Aug. 29, 2016.
12. Hayden Clark (ed.), "Vice-Chairs/Owners," Indianapolis Colts Scout, vol. 16, no. 10 (Jan. 6, 2024), p. 11.
13. Web site: Battista. Judy. 14 April 2021. Colts' initiative aims to help end stigma around mental health issues. live. 2021-07-13. NFL.com. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210503150012/https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/mental-health/colts-initiative-aims-to-help-end-stigma-around-mental-health-issues . 2021-05-03 .