For some coaches, youth is seen as an obstacle to overcome. For Declan Doyle, it’s closer to being competitive with his new team, the Baltimore Ravens.
Doyle, 29, who is essentially the same age as his team’s quarterback, doesn’t see a gap between himself and Lamar Jackson. He saw alignment. common perspective. common language. Now, for the first time in his career, he’s combining that connection with complete control of an NFL offense as the primary play-caller.
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The responsibility is a significant shift from his previous role with the Chicago Bears, where he was focused on supporting head coach Ben Johnson and helping structure the offense behind the scenes.
“Obviously, it’s a very different job. My job in Chicago is to support Ben, support our offense and try to get our guys on the same page. I’m a communicator. I’m a collaborator … but at the end of the day, he’s the final stamp on anything we do offensively.”
These are Coach Doyle’s words, taken from his introductory press conference with head coach Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and special teams coordinator Anthony Levine. Now, the goal is simple. Apply the final stamp.
“So, it’s a different role, now I’m the one responsible for labeling it and leading the staff. Being the last person to see it, articulating the vision, being able to sell it to the players and then ultimately being able to call plays on game day, that’s what attracted me to the opportunity.”
While the title “first-timer” might raise eyebrows on the outside, Doyle made it clear internally that the transition felt far less sudden. His preparation for this moment didn’t begin when he was hired. It started a few years ago.
“I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. That’s true of every job I’ve ever done, actually.”
That preparation includes a ritual he’s followed since entering the NFL in 2019when he was 22 and working as a quality control coach with the New Orleans Saints. He arrives at the stadium hours early and does mental simulations before kick-off.
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“Every game I play in the NFL, I go out three hours early, walk around the field and basically simulate four drives. I know the first time I call the game it’s probably not going to be in a smaller setting. It’s probably going to be under bright lights. I feel like I need to be ready early.”
That mentality, anticipating this moment before it arrives, is why head coach Jesse Minter is largely willing to hand over the keys to Doyle despite his advanced age. It seems like a gamble, with limited experience as the primary decision-maker on Sunday.
Because inside the building, Doyle is not viewed as inexperienced. He’s considered ready, and perhaps most importantly, he’s considered linked to the most important player on the roster. In a league where offensive success often hinges on trust between play-callers and quarterbacks, Doyle’s age may not be a burden at all. It could be the bridge that accelerates communication, collaboration, and creativity.
So, yes. The NFL rarely hands this level of responsibility to someone so early in their career, but Doyle has operated for years as if this opportunity was inevitable. Now, the Ravens are done asking if he’s old enough. They bet he was more than ready.
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This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Declan Doyle takes on first role with rare confidence
