Ben Johnson knew this day would come-he just didn’t expect it to come quite so soon. Declan Doyle, the rising offensive mind who helped guide the Chicago Bears to a playoff berth and played a pivotal role in fast-tracking Caleb Williams’ development into a true franchise quarterback, is on the move. After just one season in Chicago, Doyle has been scooped up by the Baltimore Ravens, where he’ll now help steer the continued evolution of Lamar Jackson’s already electric career.
That leaves Johnson, the Bears’ offensive architect, with a major decision on his hands.
For a moment, it looked like the replacement plan was already in motion. Tanner Engstrand, recently let go by the New York Jets, had deep ties to Johnson from their time together in Detroit.
A reunion made all the sense in the world-familiar system, shared philosophy, and a fast track to continuity for a young quarterback who just took his first major step. But the Bears didn’t move quickly enough.
Engstrand is headed to Atlanta, where he’ll join Kevin Stefanski’s staff as the Falcons’ passing game coordinator, reuniting with former Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham.
So now, Johnson and the Bears are back at the whiteboard.
The most straightforward path would be to promote from within. J.T.
Barrett, the quarterbacks coach, has been instrumental in Caleb Williams’ growth. He’s young, but he’s earned trust in the building.
Then there’s wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, a respected voice who brings both NFL playing experience and a sharp offensive mind. Tight ends coach Jim Dray could also be in the mix-he’s been quietly rising through the ranks and has a solid rapport with the offensive staff.
But if Johnson wants to bring in an outside voice, things get a little more complicated.
One potential route-though reportedly unlikely-would be to tap into Dan Campbell’s Lions staff in Detroit. Johnson’s history there runs deep, but there’s been chatter of a gentleman’s agreement not to poach from that tree. If that’s off the table, Johnson may look again toward the Sean Payton coaching lineage, which is where he found Doyle in the first place.
Davis Webb is a name to watch. The former quarterback has quickly become one of the more intriguing young minds in the league, and his stock is rising fast.
Another option could be John Morton, who Johnson tried to lure away from USC last year before he ended up in Detroit. Morton is now in Denver, where the situation is fluid.
Then there’s Joe Lombardi, recently let go by the Broncos after their AFC Championship loss. While he didn’t call plays in Denver, Lombardi brings a wealth of experience and could offer a steadying presence for a still-developing offense.
Of course, Johnson could decide to go off the grid entirely. With the Senior Bowl now wrapped, the coaching carousel is spinning fast, and decisions like this tend to come together quickly. Whoever gets the nod will step into a high-stakes role-tasked not just with maintaining the offensive momentum, but with continuing the development of one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league.
One thing’s clear: Ben Johnson has options. But with expectations rising in Chicago, he’ll need to make the right call-and soon.