There Is A Surprising Subplot To Declan Doyle Returning To Bears
Recently, news broke that Declan Doyle was interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles for their vacant offensive coordinator position. It wasn’t a surprise. Doyle was highly thought of in NFL circles, a protege of Sean Payton, and having just played a role in helping Caleb Williams deliver one of the best seasons in Chicago Bears history. It didn’t hurt that he also got to learn from Ben Johnson, one of the best play callers in the NFL. However, things took a turn on Monday when news broke that Doyle had removed his name from consideration.
It was somewhat puzzling. Philadelphia had just won a Super Bowl last season. They had loads of talent on offense and had helped Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore become head coaches. It gets even better. According to Eagles insider Zach Berman, there was apparently some serious momentum for Doyle to get the job. Philadelphia wanted him. Yet for whatever reason, he opted to pass on the opportunity and stay in Chicago. While that is great for the Bears, it begs the question of what went wrong.
Declan Doyle likely sensed turmoil in the Eagles camp.
Something felt off about Philadelphia all season. Yes, the offensive coaching was a problem. However, there was also the situation with A.J. Brown, who has been flirting with the exit door for some time. This season felt like the final straw for the wide receiver. Then there is quarterback Jalen Hurts, who also seems to have lost some of his luster in the locker room due to his ongoing limitations as a passer. If that weren’t enough, there have been whispers of toxic behavior regarding head coach Nick Sirianni.
It isn’t surprising that Declan Doyle preferred not to dip his toes into that mess, knowing he didn’t bring any playcalling experience. One false step probably would’ve seen him get fired like Kevin Patullo was. Staying in Chicago was the more sensible option. Doyle gets to keep learning under Johnson without shouldering the play calling responsibilities and maintains a high profile thanks to the presence of Williams in the large Bears media market. If he stays patient, he’ll have head coaching opportunities in the near future.