Colts tight end Jack Doyle announces retirement
Longtime member of the Indianapolis Colts, Jack Doyle, announces his retirement from the NFL.
A day that many have been anticipating has finally come, as Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle announced his retirement from the NFL.
Doyle expressed his decision to walk away from the game in a statement released on Colts’ social media Monday afternoon. Doyle talked about how lucky he was to play for Indianapolis but that now, his body is telling him “that is a sacrifice [he] can no longer make.”
This announcement concludes a nine-year career in the NFL, all with the Colts.
One last time… DOYLE RULES. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XSdvAdj5XT
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 7, 2022
Jack Doyle retires after nine seasons with Colts
Doyle, an Indianapolis native, went undrafted in 2013 and signed with the Tennessee Titans. Doyle didn’t make Tennessee’s final roster and was claimed on waivers by the team he grew up cheering for.
He would contribute at tight end his first three seasons before becoming a full-time starter in his fourth year in the league. A year later, in 2017, Doyle had a career year, catching 80 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns.
The breakout season earned Doyle the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. He would be selected to the Pro Bowl again in 2019.
In his complete NFL career, Doyle played in 131 games for Indianapolis, catching 295 passes for 2,729 yards, 24 touchdowns, and two Pro Bowl selections.
Beyond his stats, Doyle was loved by fans and everyone within the organization. Speaking on Doyle’s retirement, Colts owner, Jim Irsay, said, “Simply put, Jack was one of the most well-liked players in our locker room.”
Mr. Reliable. Jack of all trades. Hometown hero.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 7, 2022
Thank you, @doylejack84. pic.twitter.com/djekHNREvV
That sentiment was echoed by Indy’s head coach, Frank Reich, who expressed, “His contributions on the field are obvious, but he made just as much of an impact off the field. He was a leader, a team captain, and one of the hardest workers at practice and in the film room.”
His hard work and leadership are what made him a staple in Indianapolis for nine years and why Indy’s general manager, Chris Ballard, said that Doyle is the “player we wanted our rookies to emulate.”
It’ll be hard to emulate the career of a person who earned the name Mr. Reliable, but Doyle will leave behind a great legacy in Indianapolis for others to follow.
