A. J. Foyt IV
A fourth-generation racing scion who transitioned from the IndyCar cockpit to the front office of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts as a scout.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football scout and former racing driver·Birthday: May 25·Millennials
Biography
Anthony Joseph Foyt IV was born into American motorsport royalty as the grandson of A.J. Foyt. The weight of that name shaped his path from the start. He climbed the open-wheel racing ladder, becoming the youngest driver to start the Indianapolis 500 at age 19 in 2003. His driving career in IndyCar and NASCAR was solid but lived in the long shadow of his family's colossal legacy. In a pivot that blended his deep sports knowledge with a new challenge, Foyt stepped away from driving and into professional football. Leveraging the analytical skills honed in racing, he joined the Indianapolis Colts' scouting department, where he has built a reputation as a diligent evaluator of talent. His marriage to race car driver Larry Foyt and connection to the Irsay family through his wife further entwine his story with the intersecting worlds of Indiana sports.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
A. was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When A. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
A.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest driver to qualify for and start the Indianapolis 500 at 19 years old in 2003.
- Competed professionally in the IndyCar Series for multiple seasons, earning a best finish of 2nd place at Texas in 2007.
- Successfully transitioned to a front-office career as a scouting assistant for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
Did You Know?
He is the great-grandson of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt.
His wife, Casey Irsay, is the daughter of late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.
He drove the famed No. 14 car for his grandfather's team, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, in the Indy 500.
“The name Foyt opens every door, but you have to earn your stay inside.”
