When the Chicago Bears first parted ways with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, it seemed to make sense for both sides. Doyle needed a chance to call plays and was going to an ideal landing spot with the Baltimore Ravens. The Bears had the stability of Ben Johnson calling plays, suggesting little impact even after losing their OC. However, veteran tight end Cole Kmet's recent comments should have Chicago fans rethinking just how much of a benefit Doyle actually was.
The pass catcher took some time to explain Doyle's role and how fans and pundits might have been underrating his impact. These comments came via 104.3 The Score Chicago.
""Even though Declan didn't call the plays for us, the amount of work that he did on the offensive side of the football was immense. You could see that day to day in practices. ... Declan was very hands on with all of us ... Declan's the one addressing the offense at halftime, going over the openers that are gonna be coming up in the second half. Telling us what we need to do, what they're seeing and how we can make adjustments. Declan was definitely a very valuable piece to us offensively." "Cole Kmet
Reading these comments could change perspectives on what the Bears might have lost and how it could hurt the franchise moving forward. Doyle wasn't just an offensive mind helping Johnson draw up plays; Doyle was hands-on with his players and active in leadership at halftime. This is incredibly pivotal considering the Bears had seven dramatic comeback wins that were often fueled by halftime adjustments, allowing players the opportunity to refocus.
Bears Loss of Doyle Appears Far More Damaging After Kmet's Comments
While it is still understandable that Doyle wanted a chance to call plays for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, this paints a bleaker picture of his exit. Chicago has lost a trusted member of its staff who was doing more to impact the offense than was meeting the eye. Even if Johnson was calling plays, Doyle was a vocal leader and helped players prepare and adjust leading up to and throughout each Sunday.
Fans can't help but let a slight level of concern creep in, wondering whether or not there could be any regression for the 2026 offense. As great an offensive mind as Johnson is, no head coach can fill all the staff's roles alone, and it seems Doyle was doing more of the heavy lifting than previously suspected. This gives Chicago fans a reason for slight angst as we go deeper into the 2026 offseason.
It will be extremely telling in the first weeks of next season to see how the Ravens and Bears both fare offensively after their respective changes. While fans will have no problem pulling for Doyle in his next landing spot, the main focus remains a hope that his future success won't prove to be to the team's own detriment.