Jemele Hill isn’t interested in the online pile-on around Carlie Irsay-Gordon.
The former ESPN personality stepped in to defend the Indianapolis Colts owner after Irsay-Gordon drew attention for spending time on the sideline and taking notes. Since becoming the principal owner of the Colts in 2025, she has been seen there often, and she said in an interview with Front Office Sports that she is trying to learn more about how the organization operates on the football side.
“I like to say on a good day I have like a fifth-grade reading level understanding of the game and just the basic concepts of what we’re trying to do, depending on the week and depending on our opponent and depending on the situation,” Irsay-Gordon said. “But I think, then, it just helps to understand and to ask questions because I think one of the things, in my opinion, like being a good leader is about listening, really to understand. And I think that’s what the best teams do.”
Still, the viral sideline clips brought criticism her way. Hill pushed back on that reaction earlier this week, calling the backlash misplaced.
“I think this is one of the stupidest controversies. Her wanting to gain insight into how her own organization is run is a great thing,” Hill said.
“Meanwhile, y’all complain about owners who are out of touch. Please pick a struggle.”
Irsay-Gordon also made a major call after the Colts stumbled late in the 2025 season, choosing to keep both general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen in place. She said, “Chris [Ballard] and Shane [Steichen] are both capable of facing this challenge head-on and finding a way to achieve the results that our fans deserve, which is winning games, getting to the postseason and ultimately winning championships.”
The Colts enter Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 2-2, with a Week 5 win offering a boost in Indianapolis.
In Other News...
Colts Owner Addresses Growing Spotlight Over Sideline Involvement
Carlie Irsay-Gordon has found herself under a brighter spotlight lately as the Colts work through a 2-2 start to the 2026 season, with the principal owner drawing attention for the way she conducts herself on the sideline during games. She addressed the criticism directly, saying she listens and asks questions as a way to better understand what is happening on the field, a hands-on approach that has become more noticeable as her role has evolved.
Irsay-Gordon also acknowledged that her responsibilities changed after the death of former owner Jim Irsay, and she suggested she may be more mindful of how she presents herself going forward. For a franchise trying to steady itself early in the season, the topic has become part football conversation and part bigger-picture reflection on how the Colts are led. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Pittman Jr. Is Giving Colts Fans A Harsh Reality Check
Michael Pittman Jr.s move from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh was supposed to open a new chapter, but the early returns have been rocky. Through his first four games with the Steelers, a foot injury and uneven quarterback play have helped drag down his production, and the numbers have not come close to matching what he had done in previous seasons with the Colts.
Now Pittman is set to see his old team across the field in a matchup that brings its own layer of pressure. The Colts know him well, and the defensive looks waiting for him figure to be difficult, which only adds to the sense that this reunion could be more revealing than celebratory for Pittsburghs newest receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Get Unexpected Matt Goncalves Relief Amid Defensive Injury Fallout
Matt Goncalves got an unexpected bit of relief this week when the NFL rescinded the fine it had levied for an objectionable celebration. The Colts right guard had initially been docked $8,847, but a joint NFL and NFLPA statement clarified that celebrations imitating drinking a beverage are not violations, wiping out similar fines for other players as well.
The bigger roster concern for Indianapolis, though, is on the other side of the ball. The Colts added veteran defensive end Carl Lawson after an injury to Arden Key, and the injury list kept growing with several players not practicing ahead of the next game. It leaves the team juggling both a corrected league ruling and a defense that is suddenly a little thinner than it was a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]