The Bears Have Promoted Press Taylor To Offensive Coordinator — And Why It’s A Gamble
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has spent the past several days vetting possible candidates for the team’s offensive coordinator position. Declan Doyle departed for the same job in Baltimore, getting the chance to call plays and work with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. After meeting with Arizona passing game coordinator Connor Senger and some other undisclosed candidates, Johnson elected to keep the job in-house. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the team was promoting passing game coordinator Press Taylor to the position.
It isn’t a huge surprise. Taylor already has experience in the job, having served as offensive coordinator for three seasons in Jacksonville. He didn’t call plays during that run. Head coach Doug Pederson did, so he’s familiar with the responsibilities being asked of him. He’s also just 38, meaning he’s young and should bring fresh ideas to the table, as Johnson wants. This is a situation where you must trust the head coach. Johnson watched Taylor work for months this past season. If he thinks the coach is up to the task, then so be it.
That said, giving Press Taylor the job is a gamble.
Some people may not remember, but the young assistant came to Chicago with a bit of a reputation. During his previous two stops in the NFL, he’d gained significant influence over the development of young quarterbacks. There was Carson Wentz in Philadelphia and Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. In both cases, the quarterback started strong, performing at a Pro Bowl level. However, by the third season in each case, said quarterbacks fell off a cliff. Many blamed Taylor for these debacles.
| Position | QB | Stat line |
| Eagles QB coach | Carson Wentz | 3,074 yards, 21 TDs, 7 INTs |
| Eagles QB coach | Carson Wentz | 4,039 yards, 27 TDs, 7 INTs |
| Eagles passing game coordinator | Carson Wentz | 2,620 yards, 16 TDs, 15 INTs |
| Jaguars offensive coordinator | Trevor Lawrence | 4,113 yards, 25 TDs, 8 INTs |
| Jaguars offensive coordinator | Trevor Lawrence | 4,016 yards, 21 TDs, 14 INTs |
| Jaguars offensive coordinator | Trevor Lawrence | 2,045 yards, 11 TDs, 7 INTs |
Considering the vital stage Caleb Williams is at in his own development, it seems like a considerable risk putting him in the hands of somebody with that kind of reputation. Then again, it’s fair to question whether Press Taylor was a convenient scapegoat for the shortcomings of Pederson, who’d been the one calling the shots in both cases. This uncertainty makes the promotion difficult to sell. Never mind the fact that Johnson might’ve had some bias involved in the decision.
Johnson might be doing a favor for an old friend.
One fact that shouldn’t be overlooked is that Taylor is the brother of Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. He and Johnson worked together for four years as assistants with the Miami Dolphins. They’re good friends. Taylor even tried to hire Johnson away from Detroit in 2020, willing to resort to offering a defensive position just to get him on the staff. It is fair to at least wonder whether this move by the Bears is a favor from Johnson to his friend, giving his younger brother another opportunity to elevate his profile.
Is that overthinking it? Probably. The truth is, Press Taylor carries a mixed legacy. He helped Philadelphia win a Super Bowl in 2017 and elevated Lawrence to his first and, to date, only playoff win. Johnson doesn’t seem like the type of coach who would make this sort of decision for short-sighted reasons. He believes Taylor has something to offer this team. We will soon find out what that is.