Declan Doyle could be one-and-done with Bears

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 47 minutes ago

Typically, when you talk about a coach being one-and-done in today's NFL, it means they have done a terrible job or that a regime change is about to take place. That isn't the case with Declan Doyle, who is not only one of the youngest assistants in the game but is starting to get plenty of attention as a possible head coaching option this offseason.

When the Bears finally announced Ben Johnson as their head coach for this season, many questions focused on his assistants and who he would bring in to help him coach. The addition of Dennis Allen to the defense was arguably the single most crucial hire he made, but Johnson is an offensive guy, so you had to think that he was going to bring in an experienced offensive coordinator or someone who had previous experience working with him in Detroit.

Not only was that not the case, but with Johnson as the primary playcaller, he chose to bring in one of the youngest assistants in the game and appointed him as the first-time offensive coordinator, with Declan Doyle selected for the job. The former Denver Broncos tight ends coach under Sean Payton, Doyle, just turned 30 and is not only one of the youngest assistants this season but also one of the youngest in NFL history.

Anytime you take over play-calling duties for the first time, there are some expected growing pains along the way, which Doyle had over the first month of the season. Since then, the Bears' offense has been on a different level, emerging as a top-five unit across the board and helping Chicago win nine of its last 10 games, surging to the top seed in the NFC.

Even if Doyle doesn't directly call the plays, he plays a massive role in the team's overall success, running most of the offensive drills during practice and assisting with the daily game plans. Before getting this opportunity with the Bears, Doyle had a knack for coaching and, from all accounts, was also seen as a future gem given his success in getting to where he is this season.

Doyle spent three years as a student assistant at Iowa before then-Saints coach Sean Payton hired him as an offensive assistant in 2019. When Payton ended a one-year retirement to take the Broncos’ head coaching job, he hired Doyle as tight ends coach in Denver, where Doyle spent two seasons before Ben Johnson hand-picked him to serve as OC.

You look at the success the Saints offense had over the years, granted Drew Brees was the quarterback, but you look at the success that Caleb Williams and the offense has had this season, and it shouldn't surprise anyone that Doyle is starting to hear his name pop up as a potential Head Coach option this offseason.

Even if Doyle doesn't get hired this offseason, and given his age and lack of overall experience, that is a possibility, don't be surprised to see him get a few interviews along the way. Teams often like to pick the brains of younger coaches in the game to see what makes them so successful, and the Bears' instant success this season is drawing plenty of attention across the board.

Every assistant's dream and goal when coaching in the NFL is to land a Head Coaching job, so expect Doyle to take as many interviews as possible should they be offered to him. Should he elect to leave and take a head coaching position, congratulations will be in store as he would've earned the opportunity.

Should he choose to stay in Chicago or get bypassed during this hiring cycle, expect him back in Chicago next season to build on what the coaching staff has already started. As good as things have gone this season for the Bears, a coach is only as good as his assistants are, and you can look at the Detroit Lions as living proof of that.

They lost both Johnson and Aaron, Glenn as head coaches, along with some of their top-line assistants, and the Lions have struggled all season. Should Johnson lose Doyle or any of his assistants, the Bears could be in a position to take a step back next season, as continuity is crucial for every team's success. Regardless of what comes next, Doyle has made a name for himself this season and, should he move on to bigger and better things in 2026, expect Johnson to replace him with another young and gifted offensive mind.