INDIANAPOLIS – The harder I work, the luckier I get.
It's fitting that one of Jack Doyle's favorite sayings was said by one of Indiana's greatest sports legends.
Larry Bird's quote has resonated with Doyle.
No, you will never see Doyle have a walk-off moment like Bird had in the 1988 NBA Three-Point Contest.
But you can find Doyle living his life with that quote imprinted into his daily routine.
"The harder you work, the luckier you get," Doyle says, "I'm a firm believer in that.
"I just try to work hard every day and get better. I have and I've been extremely blessed and lucky."
The simplicity to Doyle's mantra has led to him ascending from an undrafted free agent to the top of the tight end depth chart in his hometown of Indianapolis.
When Chris Ballard dissected film of Doyle's this offseason, the new GM was hearing about the type of a player who repeatedly made play after play in 2016
"Jack is a consummate professional who is highly revered among all in this organization," Ballard says. "He possesses a tremendous amount of talent and you can witness how much he loves playing the game when you watch him compete. Jack has emerged as a leader in his four seasons with this team and we're thrilled he'll be returning."
That quote from Ballard came when Doyle was still the Colts' No. 2 tight end.
A day later, Dwayne Allen was traded, and Doyle was the guy at the tight end position.
In Allen's five seasons with the Colts, injuries were far too big a storyline for the 2011 John Mackey Award winner (given to the nation's top tight end).
They started in Week One of 2013.
Just days after Doyle went from being a soon-to-be rookie member of the Titans practice squad, the Colts claimed him a week before the start of the 2013 campaign.
Little did Doyle know that as he sat on the sideline, inactive, that September afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, a hip injury to Allen would expedite the role for the local kid.
Allen was headed for injured reserve.
Doyle was getting his opportunity.
Four years later, Doyle has not missed one NFL game.
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
"Footballs bounce weird ways," Doyle says. "That first week (in 2013), I was inactive, then Dwayne getting banged up, it was time to step up right away and have a little bit of a role.
"It's been crazy, a lot of fun and I'm excited to have a lot more fun and hopefully help us win a lot of games."
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