The Detroit Lions' 2025 collapse has many fans and pundits pointing to the lost impact of current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. It is hard to argue against when you see the clear offensive regression and the fact that the Bears have gone from the NFC North basement to hosting a playoff game with double-digit wins since hiring Johnson. With this in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell are likely going to consider stealing from Johnson's tree to solve current offensive woes.
With former OC John Morton already fired, the perfect place to begin is considering stealing from Johnson's current staff. This includes Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who would likely make the move based on the fact that Johnson calls the plays in Chicago. Doyle coached under Sean Payton in Denver prior to being hired ahead of the 2025 season by Johnson. The current Chicago OC has done an incredible job helping fuel a turnaround and will be an enticing name for Detroit to target in the offseason.
This is not only because it weakens a division rival and takes away from Johnson, but also because it is the team's best chance to rediscover its past offensive success. The best way to return to the Johnson era is to find the right fit from his coaching tree, and that very well could be Doyle.
Lions Have Perfect Opportunity for Revenge over Bears Stealing Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle
It is worth pointing out here that the league does have rules against coaches making lateral moves to encourage stability. However, it is unclear whether or not this would qualify, with Doyle not calling plays in Chicago and Detroit offering a potential stepping stone to growing the coordinator's career. Regardless, it is clear that finding a play caller to take more off Dan Campbell's plate is the focus of the 2026 offseason.
There will be no bigger decision made for the Lions, and it would be great if it turns back the clock while weakening the reigning NFC North champs. Another avenue that the Lions could explore that offers the same upside is current Bears' quarterback coach J.T. Barrett. The former Ohio State quarterback has spent the last three years working with Johnson and oversaw the breakout of Caleb Williams.
Williams has taken a step from a borderline franchise quarterback to one of the league's stars, putting up 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. It is the type of season that is going to demand notice for both Barrett and Doyle.
Either coach has unique qualifications for Detroit's open coordinator position and would be capable of running Johnson's offense while weakening the Bears' coaching staff. With this in mind, both names should be near the top of Detroit's list when making final interview decisions.