After Declan Doyle backed out of the running to become the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Monday, the Chicago Bears had confidence he would stick around for one more season as their coordinator.
The Baltimore Ravens requested an interview with Doyle the same day, and although the Bears figured he probably would stay put, that changed Friday afternoon when the Ravens hired the fast-rising 29-year-old.
Bears coach Ben Johnson now needs to hire a new coordinator after the team made huge gains across the board on offense with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, ranking sixth in yards, ninth in points and third in rushing.
Johnson supported Doyle pursuing an offensive coordinator job that offered the chance to call plays, and he drew the attention of many teams across the league. In Baltimore, Doyle will work for new head coach Jesse Minter and with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
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“Declan has done a phenomenal job this year,” Johnson said before the divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. “He’s everything I thought he was going to be and some. He’s got tremendous presence in front of the players, extremely smart. He’s picked up the offense quickly throughout the spring and camp and has been able to augment it.
“We’ve got such a strong coaching staff, from the coordinators to position coaches to some of these young coaches as well. They’re going to continue to ascend, and I think the future’s bright for a guy like Declan. Hopefully we can keep him here for a long time, but I know he’s been an asset to me, he’s been an asset to our offense and all these players as well.”
Doyle was the Denver Broncos tight ends coach in 2023 and 2024 and before that an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints for four seasons. Johnson was drawn to Doyle because he’s highly organized and detailed, aspects the players were able to pick up on quickly.
A day after losing assistant general manager Ian Cunningham to the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears have more work to do than they thought might be necessary earlier in the week. A third team besides the Ravens and Eagles put out feelers this week regarding the possibility of hiring Doyle and was told he almost certainly would remain in Chicago.
That shifted, and how Johnson proceeds from here remains to be seen. Bears passing game coordinator Press Taylor was the offensive coordinator for three seasons in Jacksonville. Tanner Engstrand is available after the New York Jets fired him. Engstrand was the passing game coordinator in Detroit under Johnson in 2023 and 2024, and they worked together with the Lions for five seasons.
Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, who is also the assistant head coach, and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett also could be considered.
Johnson also needs to hire a running backs coach to replace Eric Bieniemy, whom the Kansas City Chiefs brought back as offensive coordinator. Former Bears assistant Eric Studesville and Duce Staley are believed to be possibilities. Johnson worked with Studesville in Miami and with Staley in Detroit.