The Chicago Bears are starting to feel the heat-not from the field, but from the front office buzz surrounding their coaching staff. After a season that saw notable growth and flashes of promise, other NFL teams are circling, looking to poach some of the talent that's helped turn things around in the Windy City.
Let’s start with what’s already happened. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is heading back to familiar territory, rejoining the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator.
That’s a big move, and a testament to the kind of coaching talent the Bears have assembled. Meanwhile, defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Al Harris has drawn interest from multiple teams.
He’s already interviewed with the Green Bay Packers and is set to meet with the Washington Commanders, both for defensive coordinator roles.
And now, the Philadelphia Eagles have entered the mix, requesting to interview Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for the same position. That’s notable, because Doyle just wrapped up his first season in that role for Chicago. But make no mistake-his name is heating up for a reason.
Doyle’s appeal isn’t just about what he’s done in one year with the Bears. He’s a product of the Sean Payton coaching tree, having worked with Payton in both New Orleans and Denver.
That pedigree carries weight across the league. And in Chicago, he’s been under the guidance of head coach Ben Johnson, one of the league’s sharpest offensive minds.
It’s a combination that’s helped Doyle develop quickly-and now, other teams are taking notice.
The twist here is that the Eagles' request is for a lateral move. That’s where things get interesting.
Typically, lateral moves can be blocked by the current team unless the new role offers more responsibility. In this case, the key difference is play-calling duties.
Johnson currently handles those in Chicago, so a move to Philadelphia could give Doyle his first real shot at calling plays on Sundays.
Whether the Bears choose to block the request remains to be seen, but Johnson doesn’t sound like a coach looking to hold his assistants back. At his end-of-year press conference, he made it clear he supports his staff chasing bigger opportunities.
“I know we already have some slips coming through that other teams would like to interview some of our guys and I’m all for it, man,” Johnson said. “I want these guys to continue to ascend. Anything I can do to help them out, I think they all know I’m more than willing to do that.”
That’s the kind of leadership that builds loyalty-and also the kind that gets noticed around the league. But it also means the Bears may need to start preparing for life without one of their rising stars.
Doyle’s stock is rising fast. If he doesn’t land with the Eagles, there’s a strong chance other offensive coordinator jobs will come calling.
And don’t be surprised if his name starts surfacing in head coaching conversations sooner rather than later. The Bears know it.
The league knows it. It’s just a matter of when, not if, Doyle takes that next step.
For now, Chicago still has him. But the clock may already be ticking.