The Indianapolis Colts absolutely rolled to a 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in London on Sunday, an early morning game that had the NFL world watching. But it wasn’t just the final score that got everyone talking. Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon was spotted on the sideline, notebook in hand, asking questions, and social media basically exploded.
Bill Simmons Went Scorched Earth, But Is He Right?
This isn’t just some casual observation. Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s sideline presence has been a hot topic for weeks, but after that London win, it hit a new level. On Monday, Bill Simmons, a man who doesn’t hold back, went off on his podcast. He called her involvement “f***ing nuts” and “crackers,” straight up saying he couldn’t believe she does it and that nobody in her life has talked her out of it. He doubled down, making it clear: if a male owner did this, we’d be “ridiculing this guy till the cows came home.” Simmons even said “Even Jerry Jones wouldn’t do that.” Strong words, right? The Colts, by the way, chose not to respond to Simmons’s comments when IndyStar reached out.
Feet on the Ground: Irsay-Gordon’s Hands-On Approach
Here’s the thing, though: Irsay-Gordon isn’t some new face suddenly getting involved. She stepped in as the Colts’ principal owner in May 2025 after her father, Jim Irsay, passed away at 65. And since then? She’s been all in, saying, “I’m not above any job that needs to be done with this team.” She’s literally “feet on the ground,” involved in just about everything. She picks up trash at the complex, she trains with the players in the weight room, and she’s always picking the brains of everyone from coach Shane Steichen to the equipment managers. For over a decade, she’s worn a headset to listen to sideline communications and carried a playbook. She even recalled going to her first NFL owners meeting at 19, where her dad told her to “just sit in the back of the room and just be a sponge.” Her reasoning? Simple. “I just love learning.”
So, while Simmons might think it’s all “nuts,” what do the guys on the team think? According to tight end Mo Alie-Cox, it’s a non-issue. He told IndyStar, “One, it’s not an issue, because it doesn’t bother us. It’s been going on for a while and it doesn’t bother any of us. And I don’t know why it bothers people who aren’t in the organization, because at the end of the day, it only would affect us. Not them.” He’s got a point there, doesn’t he?
So, while the outside world debates and Bill Simmons rages, it looks like Carlie Irsay-Gordon is just going to keep doing what she’s been doing: being hands-on, learning the game she loves, and running her team. The debate rages on for everyone else, but for the Colts, it seems to be business as usual.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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