Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon defends sideline note-taking

Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has addressed recent criticism regarding her practice of taking notes and asking coaches questions on the sidelines during games. The scrutiny intensified after a video of her sideline activity went viral, leading media personality Bill Simmons to describe the behavior as “bonkers” and questioning why the practice is not being more heavily criticized if performed by a male owner.

Irsay-Gordon defended her approach in comments to Front Office Sports Tonight, stating that her goal is to better understand the complexities of the game. She noted that being a good leader involves listening and asking questions to ensure she has the necessary information when making major franchise decisions. She suggested that active involvement in gathering real-time information can help owners avoid “expensive mistakes” when managing high-paid coaching and general management staff.