(670 The Score) New Bears head coach Ben Johnson has made a pair of key additions to his staff, tabbing Dennis Allen to be his defensive coordinator and Declan Doyle to be his offensive coordinator, a source said Sunday evening. NFL Network first reported the hires.
Allen, 52, served as the Saints' head coach for the last three years. He was fired in New Orleans in early November. Allen has worked as a defensive coordinator for the Broncos (2011) and Saints (2015-’21). As a head coach, he holds a 26-53 record in six seasons leading the Raiders (2012-’14) and Saints (2022-’24).
“We faced that defense a year ago when he was in New Orleans and gained a lot of respect for it,” Johnson said of Allen. “I think everywhere he has been along the way, they have been a top third-down team, a top red-zone team. So, there are a lot of pillars about what he does schematically that would be appealing to me. He has worked with (former Lions defensive coordinator and new Jets head coach) Aaron Glenn. He has worked with (Lions head coach) Dan Campbell. Both speak very highly of him.
“There's no question that experience, whether it's coordinators or elsewhere within the coaching staff, will be important to me. That's why I look forward here, after we get through this initial madness if you will, we can get going on the coaching staff. That is going to be a critical part of our success.”
Doyle, 28, most recently was the Broncos' tight ends coach. He went to Denver from New Orleans in 2023 to join current Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Doyle had worked in New Orleans from 2019-'22.
“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 recently of the offensive coordinator hire. “I have 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 approaching 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 and also be willing to work late nights.”
The Bears' plays on offense will be called by Johnson, he said last week. Allen will lead the team's defense and its calls. Richard Hightower is expected to remain as the Bears' special teams coordinator.
The Bears haven't yet officially announced the hirings of Allen and Doyle.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.