The Ravens are expected to hire Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for the same position on Jesse Minter‘s new staff in Baltimore, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Doyle, 29, has just seven years of NFL coaching experience and only one season as a coordinator. He previously served as an offensive assistant with the Saints (2019-2022) and a tight ends coach with the Broncos (2023-2024) before joining Ben Johnson in Chicago. He helped Johnson quickly install his offense and played a crucial role in Caleb Williams‘ second-year breakout, both of which contributed to the Bears winning their first playoff game since 2010.
Doyle’s success in those roles – as well as his time under Johnson and Sean Payton – attracted the attention of the Eagles and the Ravens in recent weeks as they look for new offensive coordinators. Though the Bears could block those interviews, they allowed Doyle to speak with other teams. He withdrew from the Eagles’ search, but traveled to Baltimore on Friday to interview with the Ravens. That meeting clearly went well, as the two sides quickly reached an agreement for Doyle to join Minter’s staff.
In Baltimore, Doyle will get to work rebuilding the Ravens offense around Lamar Jackson after a disappointing 2025 season. The unit regressed significantly from their elite numbers in 2023 and 2024 and finished 11th in points and 16th in yards. A number of injuries to Jackson played a role, though they were also symptomatic of bigger issues. The offensive line could not consistently keep Jackson clean in the pocket or open up holes at the line of scrimmage, and the Ravens went from being one of the league’s best red-zone offenses to one of its worst.
The Bears were confident that Doyle would remain in Chicago after he withdrew his name from the Eagles’ search, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. However, the opportunity to work under Minter and call plays Jackson on a Ravens team that is expected to return to championship contention in 2026 was too much to turn down. Johnson will now have to find a new offensive coordinator heading into his second season as a head coach, and he will not be able to offer play-calling duties to entice candidates with interest from other teams.
The Ravens, meanwhile, will now work with Doyle to build out the rest of his offensive staff. They have already made key hires to coach their offensive line, but former coaches John Harbaugh and Todd Monken have been poaching assistants from their previous staff in Baltimore. With Doyle hired, the Ravens will be able to make decisions on the rest of their incumbent coaches, including important figures like quarterbacks coach Tee Martin.
Here is an overview of Baltimore’s now-completed offensive coordinator search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Mentioned as candidate
- Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator (Bears): Hire expected
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Mentioned as candidate
- Scottie Montgomery, wide receivers coach (Lions): To interview
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
As a Steelers fan (disclaimer), I love the Ravens hirings. Seriously. Talented, innovative young minds. I’m really interested in seeing what they do with the Ravens
The Ben Johnson’s tree begins
Id argue he is from Payton’s tree.
True, but they love Ben sooo much he will get the credit lol
I’m interested to see just where Johnson goes this time? Young guy again? Or older dude who might change Caleb? Stay tuned.
Im sure it will be one of his buddies. Like Tanner from the jets.
The tight ends coach pipeline continues. Coming from Payton and Johnson is interesting, even if that means he’s never called plays. Curious to see what he and Minter can do.
I think Ben Johnson is now going to bring in his buddy Tanner Engstrand to be the next OC, now that Engstrand left the Jets. Engstrand was his passing specialist when Johnson was the Lions OC .
A 29 year old who never played college football is now in charge of an offense with an mvp quartback.
Do you think it’s Ben Johnson’s time as a third string quarterback on terrible UNC teams that made him such a good coach?
Just stating facts. Never said it was a good or bad hire. Thanks.
Uh huh.
He’s just mad he withdrew from the chance to coach the great Jalen Hurts and picked Llamar Jackson instead. What a step down right? LMAO
Oh my god. Hilarious. Keep laughing at yourself.
Why else would you say something that wrong? Still LMAO
I’ll take the guy that doesn’t choke when the lights are brightest.
Doyle spent his one season as OC holding a clip board and doing paperwork for Ben Johnson, who was the real OC and playcaller. As for Johnson, he demonstrated his success as a play calling OC with DET over multiple seasons. What has Doyle shown anyone to be given the keys to the BALT offense? Nothing.
A non-playcalling OC does a lot more than hold a clipboard. He’s running practices and installs. He’s running film sessions and creating some of the plays. And he’s not getting given the same opportunity as Johnson. He’s being given a coordinator position in an organization known for developing coaching talent that’s already hired several good veteran offensive coaches, including the offensive line coach Atlanta has had the last few years.
Correct, Doyle did all the admin work for Johnson. So what has Doyle done to show he should be given the keys to the Baltimore offense? Running film sessions doesn’t hack it lol. One season under BJ just isn’t that much of a resume booster versus say Matt Nagy. If BALT had an offensive HC, I’d say that might work, but they don’t. The Minter/Doyle pairing isn’t looking very good on paper.
Dismissing all those things as “admin work” is stupid. It’s coaching. What in Matt Nagy’s coaching makes him seem like a good fit? When was his offense good when he wasn’t coaching under Andy Reid? Does that make him just an admin guy? You’ll never find the next talent if you don’t take any chances. Doyle has worked under two great offensive coaches and seems to be well regarded by the people who’ve met and worked with him. Seems like a good promotion candidate. And what doesn’t look good about Minter on paper? He’s been a really good DC and the team that hired him already knows him well.
Of course you crapped on Doyle for being young to be an OC last year like two days after you called me ageist for saying it was weird for a team not close to winning anything to hire Pete Carroll, so I know you’re committed to this one.
Nagy has been an HC with a winning record, has called plays, won/been to SBs, worked under the best HC and QB out there for years, and overall did a good job with a very raw QB (Mitch Trubisky). Put that up against Doyle’s resume. Not even close.
I crapped on Doyle but he wasn’t the OC anyways, Johnson was. Doyle just held the clipboard and learned. Will CHI miss Doyle? Will they regress? I doubt it. Same as when I crapped on inexperienced NYJ OC Engstead paired with DC Glenn. I see the same with Minter/Doyle. As far as Carroll goes, that roster was terrible. Even the ghosts of George Halas, Don Shula, and Vince Lombardi couldn’t have won more games.
Yeah, you called me ageist for saying it was weird to hire a 73-year old for a roster as far away as you just described. Then he made it worse by hiring his son. And again, non play calling OCs do a lot more than hold a clipboard.
Nagy has worked under Reid and didn’t do a good job with the offense in Chicago. Vic Fangio’s defense carried that team.
And Johnson went from tight ends coach to OC. You know, the same transition as Doyle, only Doyle had a non-play calling OC stop between TE coach and play calling OC.
Are you in aware that , in order to have called plays you first have to call a play? Yes, every other offers of coordinator before him.At some point he’s going to call his first play. Could you imagine if nobody had ever a lot bill Walsh to call a play?Because he had never called the play before?
They must believe he’s done more than “nothing”, cause they hired him.
As a !ong time NFL fan it’s going to be fascinating to see how this coaching tandem plays out. Beyond having a veteran MVP QB, overall it’s an experience team expected to win now. Any pressure on these young coaches? Hell yeh!
The guy who is great at removing an appendix is not necessarily the best guy to run the hospital.
I once removed an appendix from a book yet the local hospital wouldn’t hire me as chief surgeon. I still think it would have been a novel idea.
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for the laugh!
Yeah, but sometimes they are. What’s your point? Is your point that he might not work out question mark? I mean that’s obvious. But that doesn’t do with the fact that he’s never done it before. Turn out guys that have done everything that they’re asked to do and done.High level should get chances to move up until they prove that They can’t do a job
More money? Why leave a position for the same position?
He didn’t call plays and wouldn’t ever there.
Do you make a career of of being wrong? I’m pretty sure eventually he would have been given a chance to call plays. Johnson probably would have ceded that to give him more time to oversee everything else. That’s why it will be interesting to see which way Johnson goes next time. If he hires another young guy to teach the ropes to. Everything Johnson taught Doyle is now wasted for the Bears.
So you, merely assuming and guessing he would at some point call plays makes you right and me wrong? Okay Mikey. Kick rocks nerd
You only have to have the ability to think to see I’m right.
1. Look at Johnson’s other coaching hires. All older successful coaches in their own right. Yet he hired a 28 year old to be his OC. Why? I’m sure he never expected anyone to poach a 29 year old this quickly and thought he’d what? Just keep him locked in the basement on game days? Quite sure he was grooming him to take that over at SOME POINT wouldn’t you?
2. He didn’t even bother to interview with the Eagles because he saw I can coach Caleb Williams or Jalen Hurts. That was a hard pass and rightfully so.
3. The Ravens saw a guy who helped Caleb Williams turn into one of the best QB’s in the league while Llamar Jackson has regressed basically for years with nobody being able to figure out an offense to utilize his talents. It was obviously worth him getting the opportunity years ahead of schedule with superior talent to work with. Plus they have enough resources to get him what he needs.
4. Calling plays is an OC’s carrot. It’s the thing that can get them interested in a job but it has to be with someone talented enough to make the plays work. Huh go figure.
Your comments are just kinda petty and not very well thought out but hey, Maybe when you grow up you’ll be able to get it.Kick rocks nerd? WTF is that? LOL
Well you’re wrong. Not surprised. Ben has an ego. He will never give up play calling. Ala Payton and McVay. Wasn’t going to happen. Not sure why ypu think that. Declan joined Ben cause it was a step up from coaching te’s and a springboard. He left to call plays and be the guy. He wasnt the guy in Chicago. And Declan DID interview with Philly. Wrong again. Not surprised.
I doubt Johnson will ever give up calling the plays. It’s not that uncommon. Shanahan, McVay… they have never given up calling the plays.
So Johnson has no desire to be a GM? He just wants to be a HC his whole life? You guys are sad.
GM? Wth you talking about. So Declan is gonna finally get his shot to call plays when Ben becomes Bears GM in your fantasy argument. Got it. LOL.
I’m sure you’ve got some homework to do.
Good one. You should study up on football, sport.
He’s wrong. Bears fans worship Johnson. It’s really dumb. Dude showed he could coach this year, but a GM too? Yeah, right. Name one in the league right now. The last one I can think of was Belichick. And despite being a HOF coach (that was dumb, eh?) he was not a good GM…
Yeah right. Because everybody in Chicago knows that Johnson had quite a lot of input into the player personnel decisions that were made last year as part of the deal. Ian Cunningham knew which is why he took a job with the Falcons where the guys over him and under him were picked BEFORE him after not wanting jobs like that in the past. He just wanted the GM title to put on his resume’ Because he sees the writing on the wall. Johnson got more input into the personnel and draft decisions which basically demoted Cunningham to head of scouting. So yeah Johnson wants to be a GM someday I’m sure. I never said anything about him wanting to be a HC AND GM. I don’t think anybody in their right mind would want to be both. That’s a lot of work with hardly any upside. I’m also quite sure Johnson wanted Doyle around long term because he did a lot of the offense work and installs that freed up Johnson to look at the big picture. So now you’ve been educated how did the 12 year old put it, Oh yeah Kick Rocks Nerds! OMG did I just type that? LOL
How many head coaches have moved to become a GM? Are you just making up fantasies in your head?
There has never been a whisper that Ben Johnson would give up play calling either.
Everything you’ve said has made us all dumber for having to read.
Some NFL coaches have taken on both the role of head coach and general manager, although doesn’t happen at all anymore. But I can’t think of a single example where head coach have stopped coaching and become general managers
Exactly. There has never been a mention of Ben Johnson becoming a GM other than in UncleMikes fantasies
Duhhhhhhhhh nobody said anything about it happening in the next 15 minutes. He just completed his first year as a HEAD COACH for Cripes sakes. Kevin Warren won’t be around forever. Ryan Poles would probably like to move up so in a few years maybe Johnson can become a GM if he wants. Never, Ever did I say he wanted to be a coach/ GM as I believe nobody and I mean nobody can handle both of those jobs in today’s NFL and do them both well. Not to mention it would probably ruin a persons home life. So put the dumb comments away and figure it out.
Mikey, please take your pills.
He didn’t get to call plays, now he does. It isn’t a lateral move. Very, very simple concept to understand.
Not even 30 and an OC? That’s insanely impressive.
Truth be told Ben Johnson called the plays and was the primary OC for the Bears. Doyle was in the booth calling out weaknesses and tendencies. Ravens want him for his exposure to the quick/timing passing game to get the ball out of Lamar’s hands fast.