Declan Doyle will not call plays as the Chicago Bears’ new offensive coordinator. However, that shouldn’t stop Doyle from being an integral part of the team’s offensive scheme.
During his introductory press conference, this is how Declan Doyle laid out how he plans to help Ben Johnson run the new-look Bears offense:
“Basically, I have to do that work that (Johnson’s) not gonna have time to do, and he’s going to have to be able to trust me that I’m gonna give him the correct information he needs as a decision maker,” Doyle said, via the Bears’ official website. “And really throughout the week, streamlining the teaching progression to the players, making sure that everything is built around them. Myself, Ben and the rest of the staff, we’re not gonna take a snap this year. We have to make sure that our players understand their toolbox, so they can go out and play fast and play at a high level.”
You can watch the press availability for Declan Doyle (and the Bears’ other coordinators) below:
Declan Doyle will get plenty of experience in his new role with the Bears
Again, Declan Doyle won’t call plays this season. But the Bears’ new offensive coordinator will still be busy. Judging by what Doyle told reporters last week, the first-time OC will be doing a ton of grunt work. I imagine it will include grinder-type duties such as watching tape, creating scouting reports, perfecting play design, and whatever else Ben Johnson can’t get to as a head coach. Doyle will likely have some long and thankless days ahead as the Bears go about stripping down their offense to the studs and building it back up by the time Week 1 of the regular season kicks off. But the juice could be worth the squeeze if Doyle thrives in his position in Chicago’s coaching hierarchy.
MORE: Sean Payton Knows What the Bears Are Getting in Declan Doyle
Declan Doyle arrives in Chicago as the NFL’s youngest offensive coordinator. And while not getting the opportunity to call plays in 2025 might have driven others away from this gig, it seems Doyle is embracing what lies ahead for him. The amount of selflessness it takes to put your ego aside while doing jobs others might not want or have time to do isn’t lost on me. Frankly, I find it endearing that Doyle is willing to do the dirty work as he continues his climb up the NFL coaching ladder. Here’s hoping it pays off for him because, if it does, it likely means it will have paid off for the Bears.
If the Chicago Bears offense performs well in 2025, we’ll likely hear Declan Doyle’s name thrown out for consideration to call plays elsewhere next offseason. And if that is how the cookie crumbles, then we will likely hear about all the hard work he did if his name comes up as a candidate elsewhere.
THIS IS WHAT BEN JOHNSON HAD TO SAY ABOUT NEW OC DECLAN DOYLE
For good measure, Declan Doyle will get to pick the brains of some coaches at Halas Hall with experience in the offensive coordinator role. In addition to Ben Johnson serving as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022-24, Doyle can check in with Press Taylor (who was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ OC from 2022-24) and Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs OC from 2018-22). Heck, even checking in with new OL Coach Dan Roushar (who was an OC with Michigan State) could be valuable to Doyle. Those coaches could provide a wealth of knowledge to a young coach with higher aspirations.
