The Chicago Bears received great news to begin the week, withThe Athletic's Dianna Russini reporting that offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will return for the 2026 season. Doyle withdrew his name for consideration for the Philadelphia Eagles OC vacancy, but isn't going anywhere, which is obviously great news for the Chicago offense that took a huge step forward this season.
Looking a bit deeper, this is an important development for receiver Jahdae Walker as well, who has a chance to continue growing his role within the offense.
Declan Doyle Bears' Return is a Huge Win for Jahdae Walker
Walker has been a Bears fan favorite ever since he arrived as an undrafted free agent last offseason. In fact, it didn't take long for Doyle to sing the first-year pro's praises during the preseason:
"There are certain guys that walk outside for practice and it’s like a kid going to recess. They can’t freaking wait to get rolling and Jahdae is that way. Jahdae loves football... He’s just a guy that has worked everyday. He embodies the kind of love that you want for football on our team.Declan Doyle on Jahdae Walker
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Already, there is an opening for Walker to win a bigger role with Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay both scheduled to hit free agency. This leaves the Bears' WR depth chart malleable.
Walker finished his rookie season playing only 86 offensive snaps, but still managed to catch a pair of touchdowns with 87 receiving yards on six catches. It was enough to hint at a bright future, and Doyle's return could help with that.
Walker's potential is something that head coach Ben Johnson more recently touched on when the rookie made the play of his career, catching a game-tying touchdown to force overtime against the Green Bay Packers in a December matchup.
"To the people that haven’t been in the building it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh you’re going to the undrafted rookie on fourth down?’ We see what he does every week, we see how he goes about his business. There’s a reason we didn’t expose him to the waiver wire... We see a bright future for this guy... The coaches trust him. Caleb trusts him.”"Ben Johnson, Bears HC
Keeping Doyle gives Walker a clear advantage of having two decision-makers in his corner and offering a path to being an important part of the 2026 offense.
It was an uphill battle for Walker not only to make the roster but to prove himself trustworthy to get into the lineup at a stacked position. The young receiver now will be expected to make a second-year jump and become a consistent piece of the rotation. If the roster stays as currently constructed at the top of the depth chart, it is a fair expectation to believe Walker can replace Zaccheaus' snaps and targets.
Walker has a great chance to step in and take a leap when the Bears clearly need the cheap depth. No question, Doyle's return furthers an exciting story and gives Chicago fans hope, leaving it up to the 23-year-old playmaker to prove if he can capitalize on this situation or not.