It’s been a busy week at Halas Halas with the Chicago Bears hiring Ben Johnson as the franchise’s 19th head coach and then just days later, hiring a young, trendy name as offensive coordinator.
Let’s be honest about something. Just five years ago, the Bears were a franchise that was stuck in the past and hesitant to try new things. In just one calendar year, that’s totally changed. The Bears fired a coach in-season, hired an offensive-minded head coach, and are willing to bring in a young mind to challenge the head coach.
That’s progress, even though this is a coaching staff that has a lot to prove.
Chicago Bears hire 28-year-old as OC
As coveted as a candidate that Ben Johnson was in this hiring cycle, the Bears made headlines on Sunday afternoon, hiring 28-year-old Declan Doyle to be the team’s next offensive coordinator. In a move that appeared to be surprising to many, Doyle is a name that has risen through the coaching ranks over the last few years.
And now, with the Bears and under Johnson’s tutelage, he’ll be getting an opportunity to really make a name for himself at the next level.
In a league that’s all about being quarterback-driven, Ryan Poles did his part by drafting Caleb Williams last offseason. And now, it’s going to be important for him to do everything he can this offseason to set Johnson and Doyle up for success.
The Declan Doyle dynamic
The dynamic between Johnson and Doyle will be one to watch when the Bears return to the gridiron in 2025. Doyle, who comes from the Sean Payton coaching tree won’t be the playcaller just yet. But he will end up serving as a valuable asset as the Bears start the process of trying to get back to relevancy.
To be clear, Johnson will still be the playcaller. As long as he’s the head coach for the Bears, that won’t be changing anytime soon. But Doyle has been labeled as a wizard and someone who continues to have success at every spot he’s coached in.
Maybe both can feed off each other. As good as Johnson has been in his previous stops (Detroit and Miami), Doyle found some quick success under Payton in Denver.
And all of this will lead to so many interesting questions about how both will mesh together.
Forget the age, the risk on Doyle is worth it
When a young coach rises quickly under Payton, it should be noted that coach tends to really end up being a hot commodity around the league. The last time such a young coach was a valuable asset under Payton was when Joe Brady was an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints from 2017-2018, under Payton.
And while Brady has his doubters, so will Doyle. But something should be clear: Johnson and the Bears see a high level of potential in Doyle, which is why he’s arriving in Chicago with a major promotion.
Chicago Bears new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has curious past
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