JUMP TO:
- Who are the Colts' new owners?
- Who are Jim Irsay's daughters?
- Which daughter is on the sidelines at Colts games?
- Why does Carlie Irsay-Gordon wear a headset?
- Who are Jim Irsay's daughters married to?
- What happened to Jim Irsay?
- Jim Irsay daughters net worth
The Indianapolis Colts and the NFL were rocked by the news of Jim Irsay's death in 2025. The outspoken longtime owner lifted the Lombardi Trophy when Peyton Manning led the franchise to a Super Bowl win at the end of the 2006 season, and he bled Colts blue all the way until his final days.
Sometimes, there is no telling what might happen to a team after its owner passes away. Some families choose to sell, while others fight legal battles for control. Some NFL teams have a clear succession plan, but the successor isn’t always prepared for the job.So far, the Colts have avoided all of those potential problems. Irsay's family made it clear they do not plan to sell the team.
Here's a look inside the Colts' new ownership structure, led by Irsay's three daughters.
MORE: How the Colts honored Jim Irsay
Who are the Colts' new owners?
The Colts announced in June 2025 that Jim Irsay's three daughters would take control of the franchise. Here are their respective roles:
- Carlie Irsay-Gordon: Owner & CEO
- Casey Foyt: Owner & Executive VP
- Kalen Jackson: Owner, Chief Brand Officer
Irsay-Gordon serves as the Colts' principal owner and has final say, while Foyt serves as a key decision-maker and Jackson also holds the title of president of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation in addition to her role as Chief Brand Officer.
MORE: How the NFL world mourned Jim Irsay's death
Who are Jim Irsay's daughters?
Irsay's three daughters are all part of the Colts' new ownership group.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon
Irsay-Gordon is Jim Irsay's oldest daughter. She started working for the Colts in their ticket office before moving into marketing and sales. She took on a leadership role with the franchise after the 2011 season and became chair when her father served a suspension in 2014 following an arrest. In 2021, Gordon-Irsay helped launch Kicking the Stigma, a mental health initiative affiliated with the Colts.
Casey Foyt
Foyt is Jim Irsay's middle daughter and joined the Colts in 2007 before taking on a role as vice chair in 2012. In announcing her new ownership role, the Colts said Foyt has worked in marketing and community relations with the organization and credited her with revitalizing the team's women's organization.
Kalen Jackson
Jackson is the youngest daughter of Jim Irsay and the only one of his daughters born in Indianapolis. She joined the Colts as vice chair in 2010 and helped lead the team's community outreach efforts. Jackson also played a role in founding the Irsay Institute at Indiana University, her alma mater, which focuses on mental health.
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Which daughter is on the sidelines at Colts games?
Carlie Irsay-Gordon has been the most visible member of the Colts' ownership group, often seen on the sidelines during games and even wearing a headset.
While all three daughters have important roles with the Colts, Irsay-Gordon is the principal owner and has the final say over the organization.
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Why does Carlie Irsay-Gordon wear a headset?
Irsay-Gordon just took over as principal owner of the Colts in 2025, but she began a tradition of wearing a headset on the sidelines even before her father's death.
When asked about the habit after she took the reins of the Colts, Irsay-Gordon said she wears a headset to better understand who's responsible for the team's success or failure and make more informed decisions.
"I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of BS? Do they even know what they’re talking about?’" Irsay-Gordon told reporters. "It is such a complex organism, a football team and how it operates."
Now, Irsay-Gordon is the one who has final say over major decisions -- and she is taking that responsibility seriously.
"I would suggest it for anyone else that has to pay coaches and GMs millions and millions of dollars. It helps you make a less expensive mistake, potentially," Irsay-Gordon said.
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Who are Jim Irsay's daughters married to?
Carlie Irsay-Gordon: Zach Gordon
Irsay-Gordon is married to Zach Gordon, who graduated from SMU in 2005 and attended law school at the same university. Gordon currently works for Indianapolis-based law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. He and Irsay-Gordon have three children.
Casey Foyt: A.J. Foyt IV
Foyt is married to A.J. Foyt IV, a former IndyCar driver. A.J. Competed in 84 IndyCar races and is part of an esteemed racing family, which includes his four-time Indy 500–winning grandfather. Since 2010, A.J. Has worked as a scout with the Colts. Casey and A.J. Have five children together.
Kalen Jackson: Boyd Jackson
Jackson met her husband, Boyd, while at Indiana University. While not much is known about Boyd, he is listed as a Pro Personnel Assistant in the Colts' front office. The couple has two children.
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Jim Irsay grandchildren
While they lost their patriarch, the Irsay family continues to leave an imprint on the Colts and is in position to do so for quite a long time. Jim Irsay had 10 grandchildren, as Irsay-Gordon has three kids, Jackson has two and Foyt has five.
What happened to Jim Irsay?
Irsay died in his sleep on May 21, 2025, in Southern California. While the Colts declined to provide a cause of death, his death certificate listed cardiac arrest resulting from acute pneumonia and heart disease.
Months after Irsay's death, The Washington Post reported that the Colts owner had relapsed in his battle with opioid addiction leading up to his passing. Irsay overdosed twice in a 12-day span in late 2023 and early 2024, the outlet reported. It had previously been reported that Irsay was found unresponsive in his home in December 2023, though the Colts at the time said he was being treated for a "severe respiratory illness."
Although Irsay returned to the organization in 2024, he needed assistance to get around and died four months after being seen at the Colts' final regular-season game.
MORE: What we know about Jim Irsay's death
Who inherited Jim Irsay's fortune?
While we know the Colts were inherited by Irsay's three daughters evenly, as he had long stated was his plan, how the rest of his fortune was divvied up is unknown. Irsay was worth an estimated $4.8 billion before his death, according to Forbes.
Jim Irsay daughters net worth
Forbes estimates that each of Irsay's daughters has about the same from their 33.3 percent stakes in the Colts:
- Carlie Irsay-Gordon: $1.9 billion
- Casey Foyt: $1.9 billion
- Kalen Jackson: $1.9 billion
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Other NFL ownership families
A few other NFL franchises are run by families, rather than just one person:
Jones family (Cowboys)
Jerry Jones is the face of the Dallas Cowboys, but his children, Stephen, Charlotte and Jerry Jr., are all listed as co-owners and have major roles with the team, with Stephen serving as chief operating officer.
Walton-Penner family (Broncos)
The Walton-Penner family, which originally founded and still partly controls WalMart, owns the Denver Broncos. Rob Walton is the principal owner, but his son-in-law, Greg Penner, runs day-to-day operations as CEO and part-owner, while Rob's daughter, Carrie Walton Penner, is also part-owner.
Glazer family (Buccaneers)
The Glazer family, which also owns soccer club Manchester United, owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bryan Glazer serves as principal owner and co-chairman, but five other members of his immediate family are also listed as co-owners of the Buccaneers.
Johnson family (Jets)
Woody Johnson is the principal owner of the New York Jets and makes final decisions, but his brother Christopher Johnson is also a part-owner and vice chairman. Christopher took control of the Jets while Woody served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021.
Haslam family (Browns)
Jimmy Haslam is the Cleveland Browns' principal owner, but his wife, Dee Haslam, has an equal share in the franchise.
York family (49ers)
Jed York is the principal owner and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers, but his parents, John York and Denise DeBartolo York, are also part of the ownership group. York is the nephew of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
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