The Chicago Bears have picked up in their OC search after Declan Doyle left to be the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. That forced them into a late search, as they requested an interview with a coach who spoke with the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears are reportedly eyeing Conner Senger for the opening. This comes after a different coach turned Chicago down. Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS reported on Tuesday that the Bears requested to interview Bengals WR coach Troy Walters for their offensive coordinator vacancy, but he declined.
This development is a lose-lose for everyone involved and shows that not everyone is interested in coming over to the Windy.
Troy Walters Turned Down Bears OC Vacancy
For Walters, deciding to stay with the Bengals is certainly an interesting choice, especially with Zac Taylor likely facing a do-or-die year. Cincinnati has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, and Joe Burrow added fuel to the fire on his future when he said, "If I wanna keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, what am I doing it for? So, that’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table."
The Bengals can be an explosive offense with Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, but health has been the biggest element holding them back. And there's no telling what will improve in 2026.
Meanwhile, the arrow is pointing up in Chicago. After just one season under Ben Johnson, the Bears won the NFC North, made the divisional round, and seem to have found their long-term answers at both QB and HC.
This seems like a fantastic chance for offensive coaches, even though they aren't calling the plays. Being part of this staff can be a launching pad to get other opportunities around the league, as Doyle did. But at the same time, certain coaches may want to stay put since they aren't the ones calling the plays.
Walter has been with the Bengals since 2021 and has played a role in developing players such as Chase and Higgins. But guys are top-notch WRs, and the coaching they have received from Walter played a part in that.
He clearly has a knack for developing WRs and getting the most out of them, which is why the Bears had interest. Although it would have been an intriguing option, it wasn't in the cards, leaving this as a lose-lose situation for all parties.