Three-Word Message From Carlie Irsay-Gordon About Her Late Father Before Takeoff Ignites The Colts’ Fighting Spirit
Indianapolis, Indiana. Saturday Morning.
It wasn’t strategy. It wasn’t the Chiefs scouting report. What ignited the Colts’ spirit this morning came from an unexpected moment filled with emotion right before the team boarded their flight to Kansas City.
Inside a quiet meeting room — where Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, and the entire roster stood in a circle — Carlie Irsay-Gordon walked in holding an old photograph of her father, the late owner Jim Irsay, taken in the tunnel of Lucas Oil Stadium back in 2010.

The entire room fell silent as Carlie stepped forward, placed her hand on the photo, and spoke slowly, her voice steady but full of weight.
“My father always said the Colts weren’t built on money or reputation. but on people who were willing to fight for each other. He’s no longer here with us. but I believe he is still watching every single one of you. If you take the field today. do it as if he is sitting in the very first seat watching you play.”
Her words weren’t flowery. but they struck directly at the heart of every player in the room.
Daniel Jones lowered his head. gripping his helmet tightly. Jonathan Taylor placed a hand on Jones’ shoulder — a small moment that spoke louder than any speech. a symbol of unity rising above the injuries tightening around the team.
Immediately after finishing her message, Carlie turned toward the meeting board and wrote three simple words:
“win for Jim.”
No theatrics. no dramatic pause. Yet the impact was louder than any rallying cry.
One Colts staff member recalled: “Nobody said a word. But everyone understood this game wasn’t just another Sunday.”
Shane Steichen looked at the words for a moment, then spoke only one sentence:
“Let’s go. For him.”
The team walked onto the tarmac in a burning silence — the kind of silence that only appears when a team knows they’re carrying something bigger than themselves.
The Colts travel to Arrowhead with plenty of challenges. but on this Saturday morning one truth is clear.
They aren’t flying to Kansas City just to play football.
They are flying to honor Jim Irsay.
To fight with the heart he left inside this franchise.
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