Just a week into his tenure as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach, Jesse Minter is already making bold moves-and his first major hire is turning heads. Minter has tapped Declan Doyle as his offensive coordinator, pulling him away from the Chicago Bears in a move that’s drawing praise across the NFL landscape.
One of the most enthusiastic endorsements? ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, who sees the hire as a perfect fit for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' evolving offense.
“I love this hire,” Spears said on ESPN’s NFL Live. And it’s easy to see why.
Doyle comes from a Bears system that emphasized the ground game and showcased a young quarterback’s development under his guidance. That’s music to the ears of a Ravens fanbase that just watched Lamar Jackson win another MVP and now wants to see him take the next step. Spears highlighted Doyle’s time in Chicago, where he worked under one of the league’s most respected play-callers and helped shape an offense that was both physical and creative-two traits that align closely with Baltimore’s identity.
“You see the development of Caleb Williams under his tutelage,” Spears noted, pointing to Doyle’s role in helping the Bears’ rookie quarterback grow in his first year. That’s no small thing-especially when you're talking about bringing fresh ideas into a Ravens offense that’s already built around one of the league’s most dynamic players.
There’s also the sense that this wasn’t a move made in a vacuum. Spears emphasized that both owner Steve Bisciotti and Minter were clear about one thing: any major coaching decisions would be made with Lamar Jackson’s input. And while the team hasn’t confirmed Jackson’s direct involvement, it sure sounds like the star quarterback was at least in the loop.
“Obviously, it’s something Lamar Jackson either signed off on or had some conversations with,” Spears said, referencing public comments from both Bisciotti and Minter about keeping Jackson at the center of the team’s plans. “Jesse Minter talked about putting Lamar in a position to be even better than we’ve seen him be.”
That’s a tall order-Jackson’s already a two-time MVP-but the Ravens clearly believe Doyle has the tools to help unlock another level.
At just 29 years old, Doyle becomes the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL. But don’t let the age fool you-he’s been on a fast track.
After starting his coaching career in 2019, Doyle spent two seasons as the tight ends coach in Denver before being hired by Ben Johnson in 2025 to help lead the Bears’ offense. And in just one season as Chicago’s offensive coordinator, Doyle made a serious impact.
The Bears finished ninth in scoring and sixth in total yards per game, with a punishing ground attack that ranked third in the league at 142.3 rushing yards per game. That kind of production bodes well for a Ravens offense that just added Derrick Henry to the mix and still boasts one of the most electric quarterbacks in the game.
The NFL Live crew reacts to the Ravens hiring Declan Doyle as their new offensive coordinator ⤵️ 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ND8BwgaT4V
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 30, 2026
Doyle’s system in Chicago leaned heavily on creativity in the run game, smart use of tight ends, and a play-action approach that gave Caleb Williams room to grow. If he can bring that same balance and innovation to Baltimore-while tailoring it to Jackson’s strengths-the Ravens could be looking at one of the most dangerous offenses in football.
For Minter, this is a statement hire. For Jackson, it’s a chance to continue evolving.
And for Ravens fans? It’s reason to believe the best may still be ahead.