Jack Doyle is calling it quits. After nine seasons and 407 catches, he announced his retirement today.

Doyle, who turns 32 in May, released a statement through the team saying that he doesn’t think he can physically hold up any longer.

His most productive season came in 2017, when he caught 80 passes for 690 yards and 4 TDs. He caught 7 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown when the Colts lost a close playoff game at Buffalo in January of 2021. Impressive production for a tight end who played his college ball at Western Kentucky and wasn’t even drafted. He signed with the Titans as a rookie free agent in 2013, but they released him.

Doyle grew up in Indianapolis, watching Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and others torch opposing defenses. “Getting the chance to play nine seasons for the team I have always and will always cheer for has been a dream come up,” he said. “I now go back to being the fan I have always been.”

With Doyle gone, the Colts will now need to get more production out of other players at the position. Mo Alie-Cox is headed for free agency; he’ll presumably be re-signed. And they’ll likely expanded the role of Kylen Granson, who caught 11 of the 15 passes thrown his way as a rookie. Granson caught 78 passes and 14 TDs in his two seasons at SMU.

Since Frank Reich showed up, the Colts have tended to mix in various tight ends. Doyle, Alie-Cox and Trey Burton all have meaningful roles two years ago. Last year, the team relied primarily on Doyle and Cox. My early guess is that the Colts probably won’t have a top-15 tight end in 2022.

Including the playoffs, the Colts have played 34 games in the last two years. Doyle had nine of their top 20 tight end performances in those games. Granson (tagged with black dots) hasn’t been used much yet, but they’ll be increasing his role.

COLTS TIGHT ENDS (last 2 years)
YearPlayerWkOppResultRecYdsTDPPR
2020Burton6CINW 31-27458221.8
2021Doyle12TAML 31-38681120.1
2020Doyle18at BUFL 24-27770120.0
2021Alie-Cox4at MIAW 27-17342219.2
2020Alie-Cox2MINW 28-115111016.1
2020Alie-Cox3NYJW 36-7350114.0
2020Burton12TENL 26-45342113.2
2020Doyle6CINW 31-27329111.9
2021Alie-Cox7at SFOW 30-18325111.5
2021Doyle2LARL 24-27564011.4
2020Burton11GNBW 34-31225110.5
2020Burton8at DETW 41-213919.9
2021Alie-Cox6HOUW 31-312819.8
2020Doyle8at DETW 41-2121819.8
2021Doyle8TENL 31-3421219.2
2020Doyle16at PITL 24-2845009.0
2020Alie-Cox4at CHIW 19-1111318.3
2020Burton5at CLEL 23-3253308.3
2021Alie-Cox5at BALL 25-3135008.0
2020Doyle1at JAXL 20-2734907.9
2020Doyle11GNBW 34-311617.6
2020Doyle14at LVRW 44-2734407.4
2020Alie-Cox9BALL 10-2434307.3
2020Alie-Cox18at BUFL 24-2743207.2
2021Doyle9NYJW 45-301117.1
2020Alie-Cox8at DETW 41-2133706.7
2020Burton18at BUFL 24-2733406.4
2021Alie-Cox16at ARIW 22-1624206.2
2021Doyle10JAXW 23-1733106.1
2021Doyle11at BUFW 41-1533006.0
2021Alie-Cox17LVRL 20-2332805.8
2020Burton10at TENW 34-1732405.4
2020Alie-Cox13at HOUW 26-2032305.3
2021Doyle1SEAL 16-2832105.1
2020Alie-Cox10at TENW 34-1731904.9
2020Burton16at PITL 24-2831804.8
2020Doyle17JAXW 28-1431704.7
2021Alie-Cox18at JAXL 11-2622704.7
2021• Granson12TAML 31-3822204.2
2020Alie-Cox1at JAXL 20-2722004.0
2021• Granson5at BALL 25-3121903.9
2020Alie-Cox12TENL 26-4521903.9
2021Alie-Cox9NYJW 45-3012803.8
2021• Granson9NYJW 45-3012703.7
2020Burton4at CHIW 19-1121603.6
2020Alie-Cox11GNBW 34-3121603.6
2021Alie-Cox3at TENL 16-2521403.4
2021Doyle4at MIAW 27-1712403.4
2020Doyle15HOUW 27-2021403.4
2020Alie-Cox15HOUW 27-2021403.4
2020Alie-Cox16at PITL 24-2812003.0
2021Alie-Cox2LARL 24-2711802.8
2021• Granson10JAXW 23-1711502.5
2021Doyle13at HOUW 31-011302.3
2020Doyle4at CHIW 19-1111202.2
2020Doyle13at HOUW 26-2011202.2
2020Burton13at HOUW 26-2011102.1
2021Doyle18at JAXL 11-2611102.1
2021Doyle3at TENL 16-2511002.0
2020Alie-Cox14at LVRW 44-271901.9
2021• Granson11at BUFW 41-151801.8
2021Alie-Cox12TAML 31-381801.8
2020Burton15HOUW 27-201801.8
2020Burton9BALL 10-241601.6
2021Alie-Cox10JAXW 23-171601.6
2021• Granson13at HOUW 31-01601.6
2021• Granson16at ARIW 22-161601.6
2021Doyle5at BALL 25-311401.4
2021• Granson4at MIAW 27-171301.3
2021• Granson8TENL 31-341001.0
2021Alie-Cox13at HOUW 31-01001.0
2021Doyle15NWEW 27-171001.0
2021Alie-Cox1SEAL 16-28000.0
2021• Granson1SEAL 16-28000.0
2021• Granson2LARL 24-27000.0
2020Doyle3NYJW 36-7000.0
2021• Granson3at TENL 16-25000.0
2020Doyle5at CLEL 23-32000.0
2020Alie-Cox5at CLEL 23-32000.0
2021Doyle6HOUW 31-3000.0
2021• Granson6HOUW 31-3000.0
2021Doyle7at SFOW 30-18000.0
2021• Granson7at SFOW 30-18000.0
2021Alie-Cox8TENL 31-34000.0
2020Doyle9BALL 10-24000.0
2021Alie-Cox11at BUFW 41-15000.0
2020Doyle12TENL 26-45000.0
2020Burton14at LVRW 44-27000.0
2021Alie-Cox15NWEW 27-17000.0
2021• Granson15NWEW 27-17000.0
2021Doyle16at ARIW 22-16000.0
2021Doyle17LVRL 20-23000.0
2020Burton17JAXW 28-14000.0
2021• Granson17LVRL 20-23000.0
2021• Granson18at JAXL 11-26000.0

—Ian Allan