In May last year, the Indianapolis Colts suffered the loss of longtime owner Jim Irsay, who had led the franchise since 1997. For decades, the Colts were defined by Irsay’s passionate, larger-than-life presence. But as leadership transitioned to the next generation, his daughters have stepped into the spotlight, determined to carry on the legacy he built.
Jim Irsay’s Daughters Embrace The Responsibility of Leading The Colts
Following Irsay’s passing, his three daughters assumed leadership of the Colts. Carlie Irsay-Gordon became the franchise’s Principal Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Casey Foyt was named Owner and Executive Vice President, and Kalen Jackson took over as Owner, Chief Brand Officer, and President of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation.
Jackson recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where she discussed whether taking part in ownership meetings and experiencing the demands of running an NFL franchise had given her an even greater appreciation for everything her father accomplished.
“I’ve always had complete respect for him,” Jackson responded. “You know, I think people ask a lot about him, which is lovely, and we are so lucky. I think one of the hardest things about losing somebody is not wanting people to forget them. And, you know, for us, I wake up every day thinking about him every morning and all day long. So it’s not, like, the grief goes away; we’re just learning how to deal with it and go on, and that is what he would have wanted.”
Jackson added that she and her sisters feel a deep responsibility to fulfill their father’s dream and make him proud through their work.
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“I think that’s what’s so great about being able to do what we’re doing, is this was his dream. So, yeah, there is a little bit of pressure in the back of our minds, you know, we want to make him proud in everything that we do, and he taught us very well, and we got to see a lot. He never hid anything from us; he gave us accessibility.”
The sisters’ first year leading the franchise has already shown promise. Behind quarterback Daniel Jones, the Colts raced to an impressive 8-2 start, fielding one of the league’s most productive offenses.
However, just as Indianapolis appeared poised for its first playoff appearance since 2020, misfortune struck. Jones suffered a season-ending injury in the second half of the season, and the Colts ultimately finished 8-9, extending their postseason drought.
Now entering the 2026 season, Indianapolis is viewed as one of the AFC’s top contenders, and if Jones can replicate last year’s form, the Colts could finally return to the playoffs.
For Jackson, the mission extends beyond wins and losses. She has made it clear that one of her biggest motivations is honoring her father’s legacy by helping restore the Colts to championship contention. Through her leadership of the team’s brand and foundation, she remains committed to building the culture that she believes can one day bring another Super Bowl back to Indianapolis.
