Iowa Graduate Leaves Chicago Bears for Massive NFL Opportunity
My Chicago Bears' season ended a couple weeks ago, and yet I still find myself watching highlights on YouTube and Twitter (including this amazing one from DaWindyCity Productions). The 2025 season was nothing short of magical, with seven comeback victories, our first winning record/division title since 2018, and our first playoff win since I was a freshman in high school. I haven't felt this level of pride for the Bears since... probably the 2006 season, which ended in a Super Bowl loss.
But success in the NFL comes with a price. It comes with worse draft picks. It comes with a tighter salary cap, and the inevitable exits of valuable players. It also means that NFL teams building brand new coaching staffs are likely to poach your coaches, which is what's presently happening with the Bears. One of the youngest members of the Bears' staff, who also happens to be an Iowa native and a University of Iowa graduate, has officially departed to join another team.
READ MORE: Iowa Grad Makes History After Being Hired by Chicago Bears
Iowa Native Declan Doyle's Incredible Ascension:
A year ago, no Bears fan knew who the hell Declan Doyle was. After hiring Ben Johnson, the most sought-after head coaching candidate, the 39-year-old first-time head coach hired Doyle to be his offensive coordinator. The son of former Iowa Hawkeyes strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, Declan is from Iowa City, and spent his first couple years in the coaching ranks as a Hawkeyes assistant.
Prior to joining the Bears, Doyle served as the tight ends coach of the Denver Broncos for the past two seasons, under Sean Payton. His relationship to Payton goes all the way back to New Orleans, where Declan Doyle served as an assistant on the offense from 2019 to 2022.
Declan's role was a bit more nebulous than traditional offensive coordinators, for he wouldn't call the plays on game day. That duty is held by Johnson.
Instead, per Johnson, Doyle was hired to "help [Johnson] develop a game plan and study film." Johnson described Doyle as someone who was "extremely detailed oriented, organized and structured to set the table, and also willing to work late nights." He absolutely deserves some credit for developing Bears franchise quarterback Caleb Williams.
Doyle Departs for Baltimore:
Last week, it was revealed that Doyle would be leaving Chicago to accept the offensive coordinator position for the Baltimore Ravens. It ostensibly seems like a lateral move, until you consider the fact that because new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter has a defensive background, Doyle will have full autonomy of the offense. He will be calling plays for two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Here's a wild fact: at 29-years-old, not only is Doyle the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL, but he's the same age as Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a hugely disappointing season in which they went 8-9, missed the playoffs, and fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons.
As sad as it is to see Doyle leave, one of the big benefits of the Bears hiring someone like Johnson is they're built to weather coaching losses. Nobody is stealing Ben Johnson from the Chicago Bears, meaning Williams and the rest of the offense won't have to learn a new system and lingo when their coordinator leaves. Who the Bears will hire as Doyle's replacement remains to be seen. It will be a coveted position, presumably for an up-and-coming coach wanting to learn under one of the most promising offensive minds in the game.
Read more about Declan Doyle leaving Chicago to accept the offensive coordinator position with the Baltimore Ravens on Yahoo!'s website.
Iowa Hawkeyes Who Have Won a Super Bowl
Gallery Credit: Tom Drake