The Indianapolis Colts' trip across the Atlantic brought more than just a matchup against the Washington Commanders—it put owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon squarely in the crosshairs of NFL observers. On Sunday morning at London's iconic stadium, Irsay-Gordon, who assumed control of the franchise after her father Jim Irsay's passing, was spotted on the sideline wearing a headset and jotting down notes. That image quickly became the hottest topic on social media, with critics questioning whether an owner belongs in such a hands-on role.
NFL writer Ian Hartitz didn't mince words on X (formerly Twitter), posting, "Let's let Carlie Irsay-Gordon call plays and see what happens." The remark echoed a broader sentiment among fans and analysts who see her presence as an overstep. Veteran reporter Ed Werder drew a pointed comparison, writing, "Imagine the outrage if Jerry Jones did this." The implication: a male owner acting the same way would face far more intense backlash.
Not everyone was critical, though. One fan offered a tongue-in-cheek defense, saying, "I'd probably trust her more than most other owners to know how to call a play—at least one." Another noted the practical side, observing, "When a person TAKES NOTES, it's usually followed by an ACTION. I'm curious about what the Action would be." That curiosity reflects the uncertainty surrounding her role.
Some fans expressed concern about the long-term effects on the franchise. "I'll get if they get fired at the end of the season, her pool of potential candidates is gonna stink because no self respecting coach or GM is going to want to deal with this nonsense," one commenter wrote. Others saw a more benign explanation: "The owner is taking notes. Maybe not direct play calling, but writing things down for the performance review of the coaching staff."
Irsay-Gordon has been open about her desire to immerse herself in football operations. In a June 2025 interview with the Colts' official website, she explained her motivation, tracing it back to the hiring of Chuck Pagano in 2012. "I think one of the things that I learned in going through, even as back as when we hired Chuck Pagano, is that sort of accelerated my, 'I need to learn more about this,'" she said. "I need to be able to say, is this person full of BS? Do they even know what they're talking about?"
She credited the headset with giving her a deeper understanding of the game's complexity. "It's such a complex organism of football team and how it operates," she added. "You could say, 'Oh, that person ran that route wrong,' but when you learn to find, 'Oh, someone tagged the wrong wide receiver, and it wasn't really the player's fault—it was the person that called it,' that's been very valuable."
That knowledge, she believes, helps her make better personnel decisions. "It helps us be able to know where do we need to make tweaks, what resources do we need, what do we need to fix," she said. "So much of it comes down to just how we operate and how things work and the headsets—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."
Despite the criticism, Irsay-Gordon shows no signs of backing down. Her commitment to learning every facet of the franchise mirrors the approach of other owners who have faced similar scrutiny, such as the recent suspension of 49ers owner Jed York after an off-field incident. The debate over owner involvement is hardly new, but Irsay-Gordon's visible presence on the sideline has reignited it. As the Colts continue their season, all eyes will remain on how she balances her ownership duties with her newfound football acumen.
