This offseason, the Chicago Bears got just a small taste of what the Detroit Lions must have felt last offseason. So far, Ben Johnson's staff has seen some hot names within this year's assistant coaching cycle.
One of the more notable names is that of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who was recently in the mix to take on the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles. Just Monday morning, Doyle informed the Eagles that he was withdrawing from the conversation and returning to Chicago.
At first, it sounded like a huge message being sent (and it was, indeed). But then, even more details came out about Doyle's interview in Philly. And now, it sure looks like the Bears will wind up losing him -- but to an even bigger role down the line.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Doyle's interview with the Eagles was so impressive that he came away believing he'd have a shot at landing a head coaching gig during next year's cycle. So, along with the fact that he believed Chicago could be in contention for a Super Bowl in 2026, he's also preparing for bigger things.
"He's on track for HC interviews next cycle," Fowler wrote.
The Bears are already seeing widespread ripples of the Ben Johnson effect
First and foremost, I believe Dan Campbell is a good football coach. I think he deserved every bit of credit he has received over the years in Detroit. But maybe the Lions are now realizing just how important Johnson was to their success.
The culture Johnson has built is no accident. He brought in coaches he believed in and knew would go on to do bigger and better things eventually. But that's also why Johnson is proving to be a phenomenal mentor.
Pretty soon, we might be looking at an entire "Ben Johnson coaching tree" in the same light we view Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, etc.
If Fowler's inkling is correct, the Bears may be waving goodbye to Doyle as soon as next offseason, which would be impressive. When Doyle came to the Bears, not many fans knew much about him. But the fact that he studied under Sean Payton was a positive.
As it turns out, Doyle's ascension is happening, and it's happening quickly. Between Payton and Johnson, Doyle has had some of the best offensive mentors in the game. In a league where many teams have found success with offensive play-callers being the head coach, Doyle is in for a gig, it appears.
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The ultimate positive, here, is that the Bears are going to have Johnson for a long time. He isn't going anywhere, and he is, after all, the architect of this Chicago offense.