When the Chicago Bears hired Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator last year, the reaction was confusion more than excitement.
A 28-year-old tight ends coach with no real NFL résumé felt like a leap of faith—one that left fans uneasy.
Now, history appears to be flirting with repetition.
With Doyle officially departing for Baltimore, the Bears have begun their search for a new offensive coordinator. And the first reported interview request is already testing the fan base’s comfort level.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Chicago has asked to interview Arizona Cardinals passing game specialist Connor Senger for the role.
It’s not a name that sparks immediate recognition. And that’s precisely the point.
Senger’s rise has been quiet, fast, and largely invisible to the public. A former college quarterback at Wisconsin and Wisconsin–Oshkosh, he transitioned into coaching before landing with the Cardinals in 2023 as an offensive quality control coach.
In just two years, he’s climbed to assistant quarterbacks coach and then passing game specialist.
On paper, it’s impressive acceleration. In practice, it raises a familiar question: is this another gamble?
Senger has never called plays at the NFL level. He hasn’t been tested under playoff pressure. His experience, while promising, is largely developmental.
And yet, he’s already drawing interest across the league—having interviewed with both the Bills and Packers for quarterback-related roles.
That interest is what makes the Bears’ move intriguing—and unsettling.
Chicago fans have been here before. When Doyle was hired, the messaging was similar: young, sharp, forward-thinking, a potential rising star. Back then, trust was the only option.
This time, that trust carries weight.
Ben Johnson earned it.
In his first season as head coach, Johnson didn’t just meet expectations—he rewrote them. The Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, snapped a 15-year playoff win drought, and delivered a Wild Card victory over the Packers that reshaped the franchise’s trajectory.
That success changes the equation.
If Johnson believes Connor Senger is ready for an offensive coordinator role, fans may not understand the reasoning—but they’re more inclined to believe there is one. Johnson has already demonstrated an ability to see beyond résumés and spot fit, alignment, and long-term upside.
Still, the tension is real.
Hiring another unknown carries risk, especially with a roster that now expects continuity rather than experimentation. The offense is no longer a blank canvas—it’s a system that worked, one that must evolve without losing its edge.
That’s why this interview matters more than it seems.
The Bears aren’t just filling a vacancy. They’re deciding whether to double down on Johnson’s eye for under-the-radar talent or pivot toward experience and familiarity. Early signs suggest Johnson isn’t interested in playing it safe.
And perhaps that’s intentional.
The front office is expected to move quickly, eager to finalize the staff before diving into roster decisions, free agency, and draft evaluations.
Whoever lands the job will immediately shape how Chicago approaches the offseason—and how the offense builds on last year’s breakthrough.
For now, Bears fans wait.
They may not know much about Connor Senger. They may not love the uncertainty. But they do know one thing: Ben Johnson has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Whether that trust will be rewarded again is the question quietly hanging over Halas Hall.
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