New owner(s) means new expectations, but how much will it vary from the late Jim Irsay?
With Jim Irsay’s passing comes the passing of the baton from one Irsay to the other. It happened before from Bob to Jim, and now the franchise belongs to the Irsay daughters all of which are involved in some form or fashion. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, however, is the one tabbed to be in charge of football operations. This isn’t a sell off to an outside person or even a group, so the amount of change could be minimal, yet, any time an organization changes at the top, change seems inevitable. How much change is the question at hand.
It is said that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree, but look no further than Jim for an owner who wanted to do things differently than their father. Granted, Jim seemed to do things the right way and truly cared for the organization, the staff, the players, and Indianapolis as a whole. Those are all great things to emulate, but Irsay-Gordon will naturally have her own approach. She was taught everything she knows about the business from her father. His teachings will guide her and have an impact how she conducts herself, but just like all parents and their children, we are not carbon copies.
Jim was incredibly patient with his people. He let Chris Ballard stay around for nine years even though there is a lack of on the field results. Irsay-Gordon might not be so patient. Anthony Richardson isn’t her quarterback, and Shane Steichen isn’t her coach. Will she sit back and let things run themselves, or will she take an active approach? Even then, what she does in the beginning could be very different as the years roll on. Her philosophy will shape this team and will be different in at least some ways from her father. Major changes might not be seen, but it won’t be status quo either.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon is in charge now. She is the owner and ultimate boss. She may be her father’s daughter, but she is her own woman too who is going to make different choices. Maybe her approach will be better, or maybe it will be worse. That is a matter of opinion. All you can really expect is that it won’t be exactly the same.