The Chicago Bears are heading into another offseason of transition - and not just at the quarterback position or in the draft room. The coaching staff, which played a pivotal role in the team's offensive progress last season, is undergoing some unexpected changes.
While Eric Bieniemy’s departure to Kansas City didn’t exactly catch anyone off guard - his deep ties to the Chiefs made that move feel inevitable - the exit of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle after just one season? That one raised some eyebrows inside Halas Hall.
Tight end Cole Kmet, a key voice in the Bears’ locker room, didn’t hold back when asked about Doyle’s impact. Speaking with 104.3 The Score, Kmet emphasized that while Doyle didn’t call plays, his fingerprints were all over the offense.
He was a behind-the-scenes architect - the kind of coach who may not grab headlines but earns the respect of every player in the room. According to Kmet, Doyle’s biggest contribution came during one of the most critical phases of any NFL game: halftime.
Chicago became known this past season for their second-half surges. That wasn’t by accident.
Doyle played a vital role in diagnosing what opposing defenses were doing in the first two quarters and then helping the Bears adjust accordingly. That kind of in-game adaptability is what separates good coaching staffs from great ones, and losing that mid-game chess master is a real blow.
Kmet made a point to highlight something that often gets overlooked in the coaching conversation: it’s not just about who’s calling the plays. Take Eric Bieniemy, for example.
He didn’t call plays during his time in Kansas City, yet the Chiefs were eager to bring him back - even after winning a Super Bowl with Matt Nagy at the offensive helm. Why?
Because Bieniemy brought structure, discipline, and accountability - the kind of foundational elements that allow stars to shine and schemes to succeed.
That’s exactly what Doyle brought to Chicago. Head coach Ben Johnson had his hands full managing the broader vision for the offense, and Doyle filled in the gaps - the details, the preparation, the situational coaching. He was the glue guy, the one who made sure nothing fell through the cracks.
Now, the Bears are left with a significant void on their offensive staff. Kmet and his teammates are in wait-and-see mode, wondering who will step into that role.
So far, there’s been no word on a replacement. That silence could mean one of two things: either Johnson already has someone in mind, or he’s still combing through options.
Given how methodical Johnson was in bringing in Doyle in the first place - deliberately seeking out an outside voice rather than promoting from within - it feels more likely that the search is ongoing.
Whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill. Doyle may not have been the play-caller, but he was a difference-maker. And for a Bears team looking to build on the strides they made last season, finding the right person to carry that torch is going to be crucial.