Early Life
Kalen Jackson (née Irsay) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 6, 1987. As the youngest of Jim Irsay's three daughters, she grew up immersed in the world of the Indianapolis Colts. Her grandfather, Robert Irsay, acquired the Colts in 1972. Jackson graduated with honors from Indiana University Bloomington in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and marketing.
Rise to Success
Jackson officially joined the Colts in 2010 as vice chair and co-owner. In 2025, she assumed the roles of owner and Chief Brand Officer, as well as president of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation, following her father Jim Irsay's death. She has been actively involved in the organization's operations, overseeing various functions. Jackson also leads the Colts' philanthropic efforts, most notably Kicking The Stigma, a mental health awareness campaign that has raised and distributed substantial funding to support research and treatment programs. In 2025, the Colts won the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year at the ESPY Awards for their work with Kicking the Stigma. She represents the Colts at NFL owners' meetings and chairs the league's Employee Benefits Committee.
Key Business Strategies
Jackson's role involves overseeing the strategic direction of the Colts, focusing on branding, community outreach, and player relations. She is also deeply involved in coordinating the family's and the team's philanthropic initiatives. Kicking The Stigma has become a flagship initiative, demonstrating her commitment to addressing mental health issues and reducing the associated stigma.
Philanthropy
Kalen Jackson's philanthropic work centers on mental health awareness and support. Through the Kicking The Stigma initiative, she has spearheaded efforts to raise awareness, fund research, and expand treatment services. This includes the creation of The Irsay Institute at Indiana University, designed to be the leading national center for researching and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. Kicking The Stigma has committed more than $31 million to nonprofits and organizations to expand treatment and research and raise awareness in Indiana and beyond. Jackson also serves on the national board of Project Healthy Minds and locally on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana. In addition, she is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women's Organization.
