Windy City Gridiron
On Tuesday, the Chicago Bears officially announced the three coordinators for Ben Johnson’s 2025 coaching staff: offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, and special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.
Doyle spent the last two years with the Denver Broncos working as the tight ends coach for Sean Payton. He initially entered the NFL coaching ranks when Payton hired him as an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints in 2018. At 28 years old, he’s the youngest coordinator in the league.
“A sharp, innovative offensive mind, Declan’s work ethic and attitude will be a tremendous asset as we work to build our offensive unit,” head coach Ben Johnson said via the team’s site. “Declan brings a unique skillset rooted in attention to detail, as well as individual development and collective growth.”
The 52-year-old Allen has been coaching in the NFL since 2002, and he was most recently the Saints’ head coach from 2022 to 2024; he was also the head coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2021 to 2014, and in all, he has served as a defensive coordinator for eight seasons.
“The Chicago Bears have a storied history on the defensive side of the ball,” Johnson said, “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.”
Hightower is the lone returning assistant coach for the Bears (thus far), and this will be his fourth year coordinating Chicago’s third phase after spending five years as the San Francisco 49ers special teams coordinator. This will be the 20th year coaching in the NFL for the 44-year-old.
“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. “I look forward to Richard’s leadership over our special teams units and team as a whole.”
With these hires now official, I’d imagine we’ll start hearing more about the other assistants reported to have joined the Bears.
