Chicago Bears announce Doyle, Allen and Hightower as their 3 coordinators for 2025 season

The Chicago Bears' top three assistant jobs have officially been filled.

The Bears announced the hiring of Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator, Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator and the retention of Richard Hightower as special teams coordinator under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.

Reports began breaking on these hires on Sunday during the NFC and AFC Championship games.

"As we embark on the next phase of our operation, I am thrilled to welcome Dennis and Declan to the Bears, and I am excited that Richard will continue to lead our special teams corps," head coach Ben Johnson said in a written statement.

The Bears will hold a virtual media availability on Thursday to introduce Allen and Doyle, while reintroducing Hightower.

Bears retain Hightower

Reports circulated that the Bears were eying Darren Rizzi as their next special teams coordinator.

It turns out they had their guy all along.

Hightower will return for his fourth season with the Bears, coming off perhaps his most challenging season yet. Hightower oversaw the implementation of the NFL's new kickoff rules.

The Bears had their challenges on special teams, including blocked field goals and getting multiple kick returners experience due to injuries, but Hightower's squads also blocked two punts, a punt return for a touchdown and timely plays that earned the Bears three separate NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honorees.

"A phenomenal reputation that precedes him, it has been incredible getting to know Richard, and watching from afar how skilled of a coach, and how passionate of a leader, that he is," Johnson said in the press release announcing the three hires. "I look forward to Richard's leadership over our special teams units and team as a whole."

Bears bring in Allen to run the defense

Arguably the most important hire Johnson had to make, Allen will run the defensive side of the ball while Johnson fine-tunes the offense.

Allen comes to Chicago with a 4-3 defensive scheme, which helps with continuity. The Bears operated under a 4-3 scheme under Matt Eberflus and have the personnel to run what Allen wants to do.

He also brings prior head coaching experience with the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints, which is a boon for a first-time head coach like Johnson.

From 2018 to 2021, Allen's defenses in New Orleans finished in the top 15 in total defense. From 2017 to 2021, Allen's defenses finished in the top 15 in points allowed and takeaways, too.

"The Chicago Bears have a storied history on the defensive side of the ball, and Dennis' experience, leadership and apt for adaptivity will be critical for the development of our players and our team. A great defensive mind with NFL head coach acumen, I look forward to Dennis coordinating our defense and helping lead our team," Johnson said in the press release.

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Bears' hiring of Doyle is a youth movement

Don't let Declan Doyle's age fool you. He may be 28, but he's had a plethora of experience with some of the best NFL minds.

Doyle spent some of his formative years as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints from 2019 to 2022 under then-coach Sean Payton. Over his four seasons with New Orleans, the Saints had a .621 winning percentage and won NFC South Division titles in Doyle's first two seasons.

"A sharp, innovative offensive mind, Declan's work ethic and attitude will be a tremendous asset as we work to build our offensive unit," Johnson said in the release. "Declan brings a unique skillset rooted in attention to detail, as well as individual development and collective growth."

Doyle's hiring isn't unheard of. In fact, current Rams head coach Sean McVay was an offensive coordinator in Washington when he was 28. He went on to coach the Rams.

The difference is Johnson will call offensive plays, while Doyle can operate in a supporting role. This was something Johnson mentioned when he was hired.

"It's going to be critical for me to find somebody that can organize and structure and set the table particularly early in the week," Johnson said during his introductory press confernece. "I've been around a number of guys that have called plays in the past, and I've seen the potential pitfalls that could arise as you're coaching the entire football team and you can't get to watching as much tape early in the week as you possibly could. The offensive coordinator position is going to have to be somebody that not only I trust, but will be extremely detail oriented, organized and structured to set the table."

With those responsibilities in mind, having youthful exuberance might be a good thing.

"Also, willing to work late nights," Johnson added to his prerequisites with a laugh.

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