Bill Simmons blasts Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon's sideline note-taking as 'nuts'
Bill Simmons is done being polite about Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s sideline routine.
“I’m not gonna tip toe around this anymore,” Simmons said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “And I know it’s been a topic the last couple weeks. I think the owner on the sideline taking notes is f—ing nuts. I think it’s nuts. I think it’s bonkers. I can’t believe she does this, and I can’t believe people in her life haven’t talked her out of it.”
The clip, shared on X by @rBillSimmonsPod on October 5, 2026, follows an off-hand reference Simmons made about Irsay-Gordon earlier this season, per www.thebiglead.com.
The Ringer founder’s frustration boiled over after the Colts’ 30-13 win over the Commanders in London on Sunday, Oct. 4. With the 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff leaving fans with no other games to watch, the broadcast showed the team principal owner walking the sideline with her notepad and headset as usual.
Simmons didn’t stop at calling the behavior nuts. He questioned why no one in her circle has stepped in.
“I can’t believe she does this, and I can’t believe people in her life haven’t talked her out of it,” he said. “And now there’s this push of like, ‘oh, no, no, no, she’s really into… .’”
THE SIDELINE SCENE IN LONDON
The Colts’ 30-13 win over the Commanders on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London put the focus squarely on the sideline.
With the 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff, fans had no other games to distract them from what was happening on the Colts sideline. As usual, that meant people saw team principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon walking around.
While team owners are no stranger to the sidelines, Irsay-Gordon’s use of a notepad and headset evokes a serious reaction in some people, per the source.
The broadcast kept the camera on her, and the sight of an owner taking notes while hovering near the action became the talking point of the morning. Simmons had referenced Irsay-Gordon off-hand earlier in the season, but this time the visuals gave him plenty of material.
THE DOUBLE STANDARD ARGUMENT
"Simmons may have a point that a male owner doing the exact same thing would lead to ridicule, but the idea that no one is criticizing or making jokes about Irsay-Gordon is just as ridiculous," the source notes.
"If a male owner was doing this, we would be ridiculing this guy till the cows came home," Simmons said.
He compared the scene to Vivek Ranadive celebrating the NBA summer league title. "We thought it was so funny," Simmons said.
"Even Jerry Jones wouldn't do that," he added. "And Irsay's daughter's doing it and we're like, 'oh yeah, well, she cares about the team.'"
Simmons then asked: "Why are we making excuses for how weird this is?"
The comparison lands because Jones is the NFL's most hands-on owner, a man who has never been shy about inserting himself into the Cowboys' operation. Yet even he, per Simmons, would stop short of hovering with a notebook.
The double standard argument cuts both ways. Simmons has a legitimate point that a male owner would face relentless mockery, but the notion that Irsay-Gordon has escaped criticism is difficult to square with reality.
Two of the internet's top football podcasters—Simmons and former Ringer employee Ryen Russillo—discuss her regularly. The memes about her are plentiful, per the source.
.png)
So while Simmons frames this as a case of the media going easy on her, the evidence suggests the opposite: she is already a fixture of the discourse, just not in the way he might prefer.
THE CRITICISM ISN'T NEW
The criticism isn't confined to one podcast rant. Two of the internet's biggest football voices—Simmons and former Ringer employee Ryen Russillo—are discussing Irsay-Gordon regularly, according to the source.
The mockery extends beyond podcasts. There is no shortage of memes about Irsay-Gordon, per the source. The full extent of that meme culture is not fully detailed, but the implication is clear: the jokes are already widespread.
Simmons himself acknowledged the discussion is not new. "I know it's been a topic the last couple weeks," he said on the podcast.
That timing matters. The Colts sit at 2-2, right behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South standings. The Titans and Texans are both winless a month into the season, per the source.
So the criticism lands at a moment when the Colts are competitive but not dominant—and when the division is weak enough that every sideline distraction becomes a talking point. The note-taking isn't just a quirk; it's a recurring story that follows the team week to week.
The irony is that Simmons' complaint about a double standard may be undercut by the very attention he's adding to it. The discourse around Irsay-Gordon is already robust, and his outburst ensures it will stay that way.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Simmons’ comments come from the October 5, 2026 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” and the source suggests the topic will keep circulating among podcasters like Simmons and Ryen Russillo.
The Colts are 2-2, right behind the Jaguars in the AFC South standings. The Titans and Texans are both winless a month into the season, per the source.
That positioning makes the conversation stickier. A weak division means every Colts storyline gets amplified, and the note-taking has become a weekly fixture in the discourse.
What remains unclear is whether Irsay-Gordon or the Colts organization will respond. Any potential reply from them is not mentioned in the source, and has not been confirmed.
The silence, if it continues, may only fuel more segments. Simmons has already shown he’s willing to press the issue, and Russillo’s regular coverage suggests this isn’t fading anytime soon.
The next Colts game will bring fresh sideline footage, and with it, another round of analysis. Whether the owner changes her routine or doubles down, the cameras will be watching either way.
Advertisement
You may also like
Verstappen wins rain-hit Sepang classic; rivals left downbeat
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways with a beautiful drive at a rain-hit Sepang, according to www.formula1.com, securing his first victory of the 2026…
McLaren's Sepang strategy gamble backfires as Stella admits 'incorrect judgement'
Andrea Stella has called McLaren's decision to start both drivers on medium tyres at Sepang an 'incorrect judgement', according to www.formula1.com. The call, made…
Verstappen wins chaotic Bahrain GP in Malaysia as Russell's engine dies
Max Verstappen finally reached the top step of the podium in 2026, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix held at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia,…
Briscoe sweeps Vegas stages, fends off Larson's last-lap charge for win
Chase Briscoe won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, holding off a last-lap charge from points leader Kyle…
Chase Briscoe holds off Larson to win Las Vegas, keeps title hopes alive
Chase Briscoe won the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, holding off a late charge from points leader Kyle Larson to keep…
4 ways 946 can destroy Roman Reigns and The Bloodline on WWE RAW
Last Monday on WWE RAW, Jaida Parker—best known for her time in NXT—joined 946. The addition came during the show's main event, where The…