Carlie Irsay-gordon presses ‘play’ again: Colts owner lays out 2026 plan after 2025 collapse
carlie irsay-gordon faced reporters in Phoenix at the Arizona Biltmore Resort on Sunday, March 30, 2026, speaking on the record at the NFL annual meeting in a clear marker of the Colts’ new era. She did it in her first full offseason as the Colts’ principal owner, stepping in after her father, Jim Irsay, died in May 2025, and addressing where the franchise goes next. Her message was blunt: the team believes what it showed early in 2025 still matters, and the organization intends to try again in 2026.
What happened in Phoenix, and why it matters now
Irsay-Gordon spoke for roughly 35 minutes Sunday, offering her clearest public window yet into how Indianapolis is thinking about a roster that flashed big early and then fell apart late. The Colts opened last season 8-2 before injuries piled up, with quarterback Daniel Jones’ ruptured right Achilles tendon highlighted as the most notable setback. From there, the season unraveled, and the franchise’s broader drought still hangs over everything: Indianapolis has missed the playoffs five straight years and has not reached double-digit wins in a season since 2020.
Her appearance itself mattered inside the league setting. It was the first time in three years the team’s owner spoke on the record at the NFL annual meeting, another step in what was described as a new era for the organization.
Carlie Irsay-gordon: Daniel Jones is the bet, and 2026 is the sequel
On re-signing Jones and trusting his recovery, Irsay-Gordon leaned into a “movie” analogy—saying the team “pressed pause” during the 2025 hot start and now wants to “pressing play” to see how it ends. She said Jones’ rehab has been trending well, adding: “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). ”
She also pointed to why the organization retained him: Jones’ chemistry with head coach and play caller Shane Steichen, and the desire inside the roster—wide receiver Alec Pierce was named specifically—to keep Jones in Indianapolis. Irsay-Gordon said the Colts had no desire to start over at quarterback.
Separately, the team’s internal confidence has been framed around progress since the Achilles injury, with updates described as pointing toward Jones being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Irsay-Gordon said the stability helps shape identity for coaches and staff, including Steichen.
Trade turbulence: Anthony Richardson Sr. and a shifting roster
On quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Irsay-Gordon addressed his future after he requested a trade and after a mutual decision during NFL combine week to seek a trade was described. She pushed the football mechanics to the front office, saying, “(General manager Chris Ballard) can probably speak more to that, ” before adding praise for Richardson’s approach: “I think Anthony, I’m proud of the way he’s handled himself. … He’s so immensely talented, and I feel like the world is his oyster. He totally has an opportunity to have a career in the NFL if he wants to. I just feel so bad that he’s getting the short end of the stick (with injuries). ”
Personnel changes have already been painful. Linebacker Zaire Franklin and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. —both described as longtime Colts and ex-team captains—were traded to the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Irsay-Gordon called the moves “gut-wrenching, ” while also pointing to the realities of a hard cap and a push to get younger, echoing the “next man up” mindset.
Quick context: the 2025 promise, then the drop
The first 10 games of 2025 were framed as a run of high points, including a dramatic overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin. Then came the slide: Jones played through a broken leg, later sustained a torn Achilles’, and the season ended out of the playoffs after a seven-game losing streak.
What’s next for 2026
The immediate path is clear: the Colts are building around Jones and the offensive structure he ran with Steichen during the early 2025 surge, while the front office handles the Richardson trade process and the fallout from major veteran departures. The organization is treating 2026 like the moment to restart the story—and carlie irsay-gordon is publicly tying her first full offseason as owner to that bet, insisting the franchise will press play again to find out what the ending looks like.
