The Chicago Bears didn’t just lose an assistant general manager to the Falcons — they followed it up by losing their offensive coordinator to one of the league’s most stable contenders.
Declan Doyle is officially gone, accepting the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator job and becoming the youngest primary play-caller in the NFL at just 29 years old.
While Doyle spent only one season in Chicago, his impact was undeniable. He became a trusted lieutenant to head coach Ben Johnson, helping translate Johnson’s offensive vision into weekly preparation, opponent scouting, and in-game execution.
His reputation around the league rose quickly, drawing interest from both the Eagles and Ravens.
Doyle even withdrew from Philadelphia’s OC search — a move that suggested he was open to returning to Chicago — but Baltimore ultimately offered something the Bears could not: full play-calling autonomy, paired with a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson.
That combination was simply too compelling to pass up.
So now the question becomes obvious: Where do the Bears go next?
The Bears Aren’t Panicking — and They Shouldn’t
The most important thing to understand is this: Chicago is not starting from scratch.
Ben Johnson is the offense. He designs the system, installs the weekly game plans, and calls plays on Sundays. As long as Johnson remains in charge, Caleb Williams will continue to benefit from continuity — something that young quarterbacks desperately need to develop.
That alone puts the Bears in a far better position than most teams losing an offensive coordinator.
Still, Doyle’s role mattered. He wasn’t just a title-holder. He was the connective tissue between Johnson and the rest of the offensive staff — a meticulous film grinder, elite planner, and trusted interpreter of Johnson’s philosophy.
Replacing that part of the job is the real challenge.
Enter Tanner Engstrand — A Familiar Name With Deep Roots
One name immediately stands out as both logical and realistic: Tanner Engstrand.
Engstrand spent five years working alongside Ben Johnson in Detroit, rising through the ranks before serving as the Lions’ pass game coordinator in 2023 and 2024.
Their shared history isn’t superficial — it’s foundational. Engstrand understands how Johnson thinks, how he structures game plans, and how he wants information processed.
That familiarity matters more than flashy résumés.
Engstrand parlayed his Detroit success into an offensive coordinator job with the New York Jets last season, reuniting with former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. On paper, it looked like a promotion that would cement his rise.
In reality, it was a nightmare.
Why the Jets Failure Isn’t the Red Flag It Seems
The Jets finished with a bottom-five offense, and Engstrand took heat for it. But context matters.
The receiver room couldn’t separate — at all. Garrett Wilson somehow led the team with just 395 receiving yards, and his final catch of the season came in early October.
Combine that with a quarterback in Justin Fields who has long struggled to throw into tight windows, and you have an offensive environment where no coordinator would thrive.
That combination — receivers who can’t get open and a QB who needs them to be open — is offensive quicksand.
Many around the league, Jets fans included, believe Engstrand never got a fair chance. Before New York, he was viewed similarly to Doyle: a fast-rising, detail-oriented coach with a modern passing-game background.
The difference? Engstrand ran into the wrong situation at the wrong time.
Why Chicago Makes Sense for Everyone
For the Bears, Engstrand checks every box Johnson values: film discipline, system familiarity, and the ability to act as a trusted extension of the head coach.
For Engstrand, reuniting with Johnson offers something just as valuable — stability and redemption. While he likely wouldn’t call plays in Chicago, he’d be stepping back into an offense built to succeed, rather than one doomed by personnel limitations.
It’s also worth noting that Engstrand is 43, not 29. That experience gap could actually be an asset, providing balance to a young staff while maintaining Johnson’s overarching control.
The Bottom Line
Declan Doyle was a perfect fit — and losing him hurts.
But the Bears are not scrambling. They have the league’s most respected offensive mind in Ben Johnson, a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, and a coaching destination that now carries real credibility.
If Johnson does turn to an old friend in Tanner Engstrand, it won’t be nostalgia.
It’ll be strategy.
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