Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the Indianapolis Colts owner, spoke to the media at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. This marked her first full offseason as the Colts’ principal owner, taking over after the death of her father, Jim Irsay, in May 2025.
Irsay-Gordon inherited a franchise that has missed the playoffs for five straight years. They have not achieved double-digit victories in a season since 2020. Last season, the Colts started strong with an 8-2 record, but their campaign was derailed by injuries, including a ruptured right Achilles tendon for quarterback Daniel Jones.
Irsay-Gordon’s Confidence in Daniel Jones
Irsay-Gordon discussed re-signing Jones and her faith in his recovery. “Obviously, the human body is a mystery and everything points to his rehab going great, everything went well. And he’s gonna do all of the right things, so I’m really convicted that he’s gonna be (good). It’s sort of like last year, before we kind of faced some adversity and went downhill, it’s like we pressed pause on a movie and now we’re pressing play, and we get to see what happens at the end, which I think is gonna be a really cool thing.”
Building on a Promising Start
Irsay-Gordon believes in the potential her team showed last year. She likened their situation to pausing a movie, expressing excitement to see how it ends.
Jones’s performance during the Colts’ 8-2 start was notable. The team averaged 3.17 points per drive, the fourth-highest mark by a team through its first 10 games this century. Jones threw 15 touchdown passes against seven interceptions, achieving a 101.6 passer rating. He also contributed five rushing touchdowns.
Chemistry and Continuity at Quarterback
Irsay-Gordon emphasised Jones’s chemistry with Colts coach Shane Steichen. She also mentioned that several players, including wide receiver Alec Pierce, wanted Jones back. The Colts did not want to start over at the quarterback position.
Despite Irsay-Gordon’s optimism, there are concerns about Jones’s injury history. He has only played one full season in his first seven years.
Irsay-Gordon spoke for roughly 35 minutes about her team’s outlook.