Indianapolis Colts transition team ownership to Jim Irsay’s daughters

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts announced the transition of team ownership from late owner and CEO Jim Irsay to his daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson.

All three have served as Colts vice chair/owner since 2012. 

Carlie will now become owner and CEO. In this role, she will serve as the team’s principal owner. She took control of the team during the 2014 six-game suspension from Jim’s DWI arrest, which was a clear signal she would one day assume control. 

The other two sister’s will still play big roles, with Casey becoming owner and executive vice president, and Kalen becoming owner and chief brand officer and president of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation.

The three will take on their new roles effective immediately. 

The Colts are one of the few NFL franchises under sole family ownership. Robert Irsay, Jim’s dad, bought the Baltimore Colts in 1972 in a franchise trade for the Los Angeles Rams. The Colts stayed in Baltimore for 12 years before Robert moved the team to Indianapolis in 1984. Robert died in 1997, and that’s when Jim became sole owner. 

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Bios below are prior to the daughters taking their new roles with the Colts.)

Carlie, 44, is the oldest of Jim’s three daughters.

She is vice chair/owner of the Colts for 14 seasons.

According to the Colts, Carlie was involved in all aspects of the club. Over the years, Carlie worked as an intern in many of the club’s departments. She joined the team as a vice president in 2008.

“She’s in meetings. She’s all around this place. She’s been doing that for years, and she would even come and give you a pop quiz from time to time. So, you got to make sure you’re not asleep in those meetings,” Reggie Wayne said with a laugh during a May 28 press conference. “But yeah, she’s been a student of the game for many years now, even before I got here.”

Since 2004, Carlie has also represented the Colts at NFL owners’ meetings.

She is also a member of the NFL’s Media Owned & Operated Committee, which oversees all NFL media properties and is responsible for setting media strategies and policies across the NFL and its clubs.

She also serves on the NFL’s Security & Fan Conduct Committee, as well as other committees that guide NFL initiatives.

Carlie created and oversees both the Colts’ Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellowship and Harriet P. Irsay Fellowship for Women in Football programs. Those programs give diverse candidates and women the opportunity to gain experience working in the Colts coaching or football operations departments.

According to the Colts, Carlie also serves on the board of the NFL Player Care Foundation, which supports the wellbeing of retired players. 

She has an undergraduate degree in religious studies from Skidmore College and a completed coursework toward a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. 

Carlie lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Zach Gordon, and three children.

Casey is a vice chair/owner of the Indianapolis Colts.

She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in sports marketing.

Her work has included time in London, England, for the NFL, as she helped plan the first regular season game outside North America in 2007.

She then joined the Colts in 2007, focusing on marketing and community relations.

She’s helped with the revitalization of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization.

Foyt lives in Carmel with her husband, Anthony J. Foyt, IV, and five children.

Kalen Jackson is also a vice chair/owner. 

Kalen oversees the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. 

She leads “Kicking The Stigma,” which is the Irsay family’s initiative to “raise awareness about mental health disorders and end the stigma often associated with these illnesses.” Since 2020, the initiative has committed more than $30 million to nonprofits and organizations that support treatment, research and raising awareness.

Kalen serves on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana, and she is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. 

She chairs the league’s Employee Benefits Committee and is responsible for administering benefits.

She graduated from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. 

Kalen lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Boyd Jackson, and their two daughters.