Meet the three sisters making NFL history

Jim Irsay's daughters have always been around their father's team. Now they own the Indianapolis Colts.

When the Indianapolis Colts kicked off their season with a 33-8 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, a familiar face was missing from the proceedings: Jim Irsay, the billionaire who was the NFL franchise's owner and CEO from 1997 until his death in May.

While Irsay was honored with an introduction into Indianapolis’ Ring of Honor, his legacy was on display in another way, as his three daughters — the new stewards of the franchise — presided over their first regular-season win as the team’s new brain trust.

“I grew up in the league when there weren’t any women in the locker room,” Kalen Jackson, Irsay’s youngest daughter, told NBC News Now. Jackson is now a co-owner of the team, as well as its chief brand officer. “It was bizarre, almost, to have our dad bring us in, because there were no women trainers, there were no women coaches. He was the one reminding us you deserve to be here. Don’t forget that.”

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay at a game in 2019.Bobby Ellis / Getty Images fileThe CEO of the Colts is Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the eldest of the three, who was seen patrolling the sidelines in Week 1. Irsay-Gordon admits to still hearing her dad when she’s running up and down the field and wanted to text him her thoughts about the game after the win.

She also admits to feelings of uncertainty even as she feels ready to guide the franchise forward.