Carlie Irsay-Gordon named to TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026

INDIANAPOLIS, June 9, 2026. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the Indianapolis Colts’ owner and CEO, was named to TIME magazine’s TIME100 list of the 100 most influential people in sports for 2026, the team announced Tuesday. The recognition places the Colts’ top executive among a select group of leaders reshaping how major sports organizations are run, branded, and discussed in the public sphere.

Irsay-Gordon assumed her current role last year as part of the Colts’ ownership transition that followed the passing of her father, Jim Irsay. According to the team, her leadership position is shared with other senior executives named in the organization’s release, including Owner and Executive Vice President Casey Foyt and Owner and Chief Brand Officer Kalen Jackson. The ownership change reflected a shift in management, while keeping the franchise’s long-standing identity intact.

The Colts’ announcement also framed Irsay-Gordon’s award in the context of her long internal involvement with the organization. She has been described by the team as someone who was heavily engaged within the Colts for more than two decades before becoming principal owner. That background matters in franchise leadership, where day-to-day decisions about business operations, football operations alignment, and public engagement often carry multiyear impacts.

TIME’s writeup, as summarized by the Colts, characterized Irsay-Gordon as not only a high-profile NFL owner but as the most prominent woman in that category. TIME also noted that, in addition to Irsay-Gordon, only one other NFL owner appears on the TIME100 sports list: Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. That detail underscores how rarely NFL ownership alone is singled out for broad, cross-sport visibility on an annual list dominated by athletes, coaches, and media figures.

The Colts’ release further placed the moment in a wider sports-media landscape. TIME named other prominent figures connected to the Indianapolis-area sports conversation, including current media personality Pat McAfee, who formerly played for the Colts as a punter. While those individuals are not part of the Colts front office, their inclusion reflects how the franchise’s wider influence extends beyond Sundays, through both personality-driven coverage and national branding.

From a franchise-management standpoint, an award like TIME100 does not change the Colts’ roster by itself, but it can shape perception. Ownership and executive leadership often influence how fans and stakeholders evaluate a team’s direction, especially during periods when the organizational structure is still settling after a transition. It can also raise the stakes for communication, because high visibility tends to invite increased attention to decisions on football strategy, facilities, marketing, and community engagement.

Looking ahead, the immediate watch item is how Irsay-Gordon’s leadership continues to translate into outcomes that fans measure tangibly. The Colts will still be judged by football results, but the award suggests the league-wide narrative around the franchise may keep emphasizing leadership, culture, and brand building. Whether TIME100 becomes a headline that follows her through the season or a one-day spotlight, it marks a notable milestone in the story of who is steering one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises in the modern era.