INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Shane Steichen handed out three game balls in the locker room after a surprising, dominant win over Miami.
One to Carlie Irsay-Gordon, one to Casey Foyt and one to Kalen Jackson.
The final gesture in an emotional day, an overwhelming 33-8 Indianapolis win over the Dolphins that meant so much more than 1-0. The Colts won their first season opener since 2013, offered concrete reason for hope after an offseason of questions about the team’s future and it took place in front of a long list of franchise legends, back in Indianapolis for a reason larger than the opening of the 2025 season.
Sunday’s opener was an opportunity to remember late owner Jim Irsay, who died in May and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime, with his daughters doing the honors.
A game ball for all three served as a fitting end to the day.
“I just kind of talked about what their dad meant to this organization,” Steichen said. “And him raising those three daughters, doing it the right way and setting them up for a moment to take over this team. I thought it was really special, really fitting for them, being full-time owners now, to get a game ball.”
Handing Irsay-Gordon, Foyt and Jackson a game ball was another sign of the team’s transition, the latest passing of the torch from father to daughters since Irsay’s death.
Irsay himself was a fixture in the Indianapolis locker room after games, known for celebrating big wins with his team in the moment.
“He was in the locker room after games, both home and away,” Peyton Manning said during the halftime ceremony. “He loved the Colts, the horseshoe and was the kind of owner every player dreams of playing for.”
Irsay was beloved in Indianapolis, by players, coaches, fans and Colts staff alike. In the wake of his passing, there has been an ongoing revelation of Irsay’s philanthropic efforts, everything from the Kicking the Stigma campaign that has raised millions of dollars for mental health to paying for the funerals of individuals who’d lost loved ones.
The stories keep coming. For example, Irsay left instructions for a generous amount of money to be provided to many members of the Colts staff upon his passing, one last thank you to the people who’d worked for him.
In the week leading up to Sunday’s opener, the Colts made it clear that Irsay’s Ring of Honor induction added motivation and meaning to the game.
“We’re playing for a bigger purpose,” wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. “Everybody feels that, and I think it showed today.”
The season opener always carried extra meaning for Irsay.
Frustrated by the team’s streak of futility in the first game of the season, Irsay often spoke of the importance of the opener over the course of the streak.
When the Colts were able to come through with a win on Sunday, a simple message was placed on every scoreboard and screen at Lucas Oil.
Won for Jim.
“It means everything,” Steichen said. “What I mean by that is honoring a man that did so much for this community, for this organization. Obviously, he’s not with us physically, but he’s definitely with us spiritually everywhere we go.”
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Colts owners Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson received game balls Sunday
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
