Women of Influence

Kalen Jackson is entering her 13th season as vice chair/owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Jackson joined the team in 2010 as vice president and, along with sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt, represents the next generation of Colts ownership. Like her sisters, she grew up with the Colts organization as a significant part of her life since birth.

Jackson oversees various functions of the organization, including coordinating the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. Under the leadership of Jackson and her family, the Colts have been honored to support projects and organizations such as the Irsay Family YMCA, the downtown Colts Canal Playspace, Riley Hospital for Children, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, Indiana Black Expo, Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children, and hundreds of other important community initiatives.In this role, she also engages and connects Colts players, coaches, alumni, staff and partners with off-the-field charitable efforts, such as playground builds, book drives, tree plantings, school and hospital visits, neighborhood cleanups, and youth football clinics.

She currently leads Kicking The Stigma, the team and family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma too often associated with these illnesses. Since launching in 2020, Kicking The Stigma has committed $30 million to nonprofits and organizations expanding treatment and research and raising awareness in Indiana and beyond. 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.

Jackson also serves on the national board of Project Healthy Minds and locally on the board of United Way of Central Indiana. She also is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization.

In addition to representing the Colts at NFL Owners’ meetings, Jackson has chaired the league’s Employee Benefits Committee, which is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues.

Jackson graduated with honors in 2010 from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. Jackson was born and resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Boyd Jackson, and their two daughters.