The Ravens didn’t waste any time. Just a day after new head coach Jesse Minter said his offensive coordinator search was “very far along,” Baltimore is making a bold move - tapping 29-year-old Declan Doyle as the man to lead Lamar Jackson’s offense.
Doyle, fresh off his first season as Chicago’s offensive coordinator under Bears head coach Ben Johnson, now steps into a much bigger spotlight. This will be his first opportunity to call plays at the NFL level - a significant leap, especially in a city where expectations are always high and patience is always thin. But if you’re looking for upside, Doyle brings plenty of it.
Let’s start with the resume. While he hasn’t been the primary play-caller yet, Doyle has spent the last few years working under some of the league’s sharper offensive minds - Johnson in Chicago and Sean Payton in both Denver and New Orleans. That’s not just exposure to high-level schemes; that’s a crash course in how to build and adjust offenses week-to-week in a league that never stops evolving.
And the results in Chicago speak volumes. In 2025, Doyle played a key role in turning around what had been one of the league’s worst offenses the year before.
The Bears jumped to sixth in total yards, ninth in both points and yards per play, and cracked the top 10 in offensive DVOA. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the product of smart design, detailed preparation, and a staff that knows how to maximize its personnel.
Now, Doyle takes on a very different challenge: building an offense around a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson, who’s coming off an injury-riddled season. The two are the same age - 29 - but their paths couldn’t be more different.
Jackson is already a household name, a game-changer when healthy, and the face of the franchise. Doyle is still carving out his identity.
That dynamic will be one of the most fascinating storylines to watch in Baltimore this offseason.
There’s no question the Ravens are betting on upside here. Doyle is now the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL, and he steps into that role under a first-time head coach in Minter, who has already said he’ll handle the defensive play-calling himself.
That’s a lot of uncharted territory for a team with playoff aspirations. But it’s also a chance to build something fresh - and potentially special - from the ground up.
To help stabilize things, the Ravens are expected to bring in some veteran voices on the offensive staff. One name to watch is Dwayne Ledford, the former Falcons offensive line coach and run game coordinator. His experience could be key in helping Doyle manage the transition and in building out the physical, run-heavy identity that’s long been part of Baltimore’s DNA.
And don’t overlook Doyle’s background with tight ends. He spent two seasons coaching the position in Denver, which could be a timely boost for Mark Andrews. The three-time Pro Bowler has seen his production dip the past two years, but with a coordinator who understands how to scheme for tight ends, there’s reason to believe a bounce-back could be on the horizon.
Philadelphia reportedly had interest in Doyle for its offensive coordinator role before he pulled out of the running - a sign that Baltimore isn’t the only team that sees big potential in him. Now, the Ravens are giving him the reins.
It’s a risk, no doubt. But in today’s NFL, sometimes it takes a bold move to unlock the next level. Baltimore is betting that Declan Doyle is ready for that leap.