Ben Johnson is uniquely equipped with internal and external offensive coordinator candidates to replace Declan Doyle
The Chicago Bears now need to be looking for a new offensive coordinator.
The brain-drain of the Chicago Bears coaching staff under head coach Ben Johnson was to be expected following the team’s 12-7 season that included a two-game playoff run.
The Bears have now lost two assistants in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and RBs coach Eric Bieniemy, who is reuniting with the Kanas City Chiefs as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
Losing both assistants is a major blow to the staff. Luckily, the Bears are uniquely positioned by having Johnson running the offense. And looking more closely at Doyle, the Bears are also uniquely equipped to replace him.
Bears internal offensive coordinator candidates
Press Taylor – Bears passing game coordinator
Taylor is the obvious in-house candidate to take over the role. Taylor has three years of experience as an offensive coordinator during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and it’s a role he can easily step into. The two could also work hand-in-hand with Johnson building the run game and Taylor continuing to build the passing game for this offense going into Year 2.
J.T. Barrett – Bears QBs coach
Another internal promotion would be moving Barrett up the ladder. The former Ohio State standout is quickly rising up the coaching ranks and already was linked to other offensive coordinator positions. Barrett already has a growing connection with quarterback Caleb Williams and has spent two years working under Johnson, so he’s perfectly able to take on some of the OC duties Johnson is looking to take off his plate.
Bears external offensive coordinator candidates
Davis Webb – Broncos pass game coordinator / QBs coach
Johnson already stole one young offensive mind off the Sean Payton tree when he hired Doyle as his offensive coordinator this time last year. Webb is another rising name with a promotion waiting to happen and is getting serious looks as a head coach candidate with multiple different teams as we speak. Landing Webb might just be another one-and-done OC, but he’s a really strong candidate.
David Shaw – Lions passing game coordinator
Shaw is one of the offensive coordinator candidates Johnson considered last year before landing on Doyle. He has close ties with both Payton and Dan Campbell, so the familiarity is there. Instead of landing with the Bears, Shaw joined the Detroit Lions as the passing game coordinator during the 2025 season. With a new external offensive coordinator coming to Detroit in Drew Petzing, Shaw might jump over to Chicago if the position opens up and is offered to him.
Bo Hardegree – Titans QBs coach
Another candidate that Johnson considered hiring. Hardegree spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and now could be looking for a new home with head coach Robert Saleh being hired in Tennessee with a new offensive staff joining him. Hardegree has some OC experience too after serving as the Las Vegas Raiders interim OC back in 2023. He also used to be an offensive assistant for the Bears back in 2015 under former OC Adam Gase, who has history with Johnson.
Will Lawing – Boston College OC and TEs coach
Lawing is already on the way to the Bears after spending years working alongside Bill O’Brien across multiple stops in the NFL and college football. Johnson and Lawing used to be former college teammates at UNC and he has plenty of coaching experience under his belt. Johnson was formerly against hiring his “friends” but Lawing certainly should be in consideration with the position now open.
Chicago Bears News
Multiple teams are zeroing in on one of Ben Johnson’s best assistants, including the Bears biggest rival
The raid of the Chicago Bears coaching staff is expected to continue.
