The Baltimore Ravens have made their first major coaching splash under new head coach Jesse Minter - and it’s a bold one. Declan Doyle, just 29 years old, is taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator.
That makes him the youngest OC in the NFL, and he’ll be tasked with running an offense headlined by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry. No pressure, right?
Doyle comes to Baltimore after one season as offensive coordinator in Chicago, where he worked under first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson. It’s worth noting that Doyle didn’t call plays in that role, but he played a key part in shaping the offense and leading meetings - responsibilities that gave him a front-row seat to the inner workings of one of the league’s more creative offensive minds.
For Minter, who will be calling the defense himself, this hire was always going to be a critical one. When you’ve got a franchise quarterback like Jackson and a centerpiece like Henry, the offensive coordinator isn’t just designing plays - they’re helping steer the identity of the team. And with Todd Monken now in Cleveland after three seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens are looking for someone who can re-ignite a unit that struggled to find its rhythm in 2025.
Last season, the offense started hot but couldn’t sustain momentum. Injuries to Jackson certainly didn’t help, but even when he was on the field, the unit lacked the consistency we’ve come to expect. That’s the challenge Doyle steps into - not just managing talent, but unlocking it.
At his introductory press conference, Minter emphasized the importance of building a connection with Jackson and “helping him become the best version of himself.” That’s a tall order, but it’s also exactly what Doyle was praised for during his time in Chicago.
Under Johnson, he helped guide quarterback Caleb Williams through a significant Year 2 leap. While Johnson got most of the spotlight for the Bears’ offensive growth, league insiders credit Doyle for his role in game planning and quarterback development.
Around the league, Doyle has earned a reputation for being sharp, well-organized, and innovative - traits that have caught the attention of respected names like Johnson and Sean Payton. It was Payton who first brought Doyle into the NFL in 2019, hiring him as an offensive assistant with the Saints.
Doyle spent four seasons in New Orleans before reuniting with Payton in Denver as the Broncos’ tight ends coach in 2023. That stint lasted two seasons before Johnson tapped him to coordinate the Bears’ offense in 2025.
Doyle had reportedly withdrawn from consideration for the Eagles’ offensive coordinator job earlier this week, but the Ravens stayed aggressive. Baltimore had been linked to several other candidates, including Rams pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, Broncos pass game coordinator Davis Webb, Lions assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery, and former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury. But in the end, they zeroed in on Doyle - and got their guy.
This hire signals a clear direction for the Ravens. They’re betting on upside, on innovation, and on a young coach who’s already earned the trust of some of the league’s sharpest minds. And while Doyle may not have play-calling experience yet, he’s stepping into a situation with one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks and a head coach who knows how to build a defense that gives the offense room to work.
Now it’s up to Doyle to take that foundation and turn it into results. Because in Baltimore, the expectations don’t dip - they reload.