Tony Farmer says the reaction to Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has gotten out of hand.
The 49ers podcaster argued Thursday that Irsay-Gordon is drawing more heat for taking notes on the sideline than 49ers owner Jed York did after his August arrest. Farmer wrote on X, "The Colts' owner is getting more criticism for taking notes on the sideline than the 49ers owner did for getting arrested in a trailer park after repeatedly contacting a pr*stitute," he wrote, Thursday. "Do better."
Irsay-Gordon has been a fixture on the Colts sideline for more than 10 years. Since the death of her father, Jim Irsay, in May 2025, she has taken on the role of principal owner and CEO, wearing a headset to listen to staff communication while also carrying a notepad. That scrutiny has only intensified with Indianapolis stuck on nine straight losses dating to last season and heading into a Week 3 home game against Houston.
The criticism hasn’t come only from fans and media. Former Green Bay Packers executive Andrew Brandt, speaking on the Ross Tucker podcast, described the sideline as "sacred ground" and said owners and front-office personnel have no business being there. Former ESPN personality Ryen Russillo also called Irsay-Gordon’s actions "performative" and said he wanted to see her notes.
Russillo pushed back on the idea that the reaction was about gender, pointing to the way Boston mocked Patriots owner Robert Kraft for years for timing workouts with a stopwatch.
Irsay-Gordon has said the headset helps her understand when a problem stems from the person making the call rather than the player, which gives her a better sense of what needs to be fixed.
York’s legal situation became public after his Aug. 23 arrest in East Palestine, Ohio, on misdemeanor charges of engaging in pr*stitution and possessing criminal tools. The arrest followed his response to an ad posted by an agent of the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.
He pleaded no contest the following day. The pr*stitution charge was reduced to disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, while the criminal tools charge remained. York received a one-day jail sentence on each count, served at the same time with credit for one day already served, and was fined $1,150.
The NFL said it will review the matter under its personal conduct policy. No discipline has been announced, and Front Office Sports reported the outcome could hinge on whether York voluntarily steps away from his role.
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