Bears hire former Saints Chief coach Dennis Allen as next DC, Declan Doyle as OC

On January 27, 2025By Littum

New Orleans, Louisiana - October 17: Head coach Dennis Allen from the break responds to Denver Broncos during a match in Caesar's Superdome on October 17, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) — Dennis Allen was fired by Saints midway through the season. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Ben Johnson has found his two best coordinators.

The new Chicago Bears coach hired both offensive and defensive coordinators on Sunday afternoon, according to several reports. The team entered into an agreement with former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen to become their next defensive coordinator. They also agreed with Denver Broncos Tight Ends coach Declan Doyle to become their next offensive coordinator.

Sources: The #Bears hiring earlier #Helig Head coach and respected Guru Dennis Allen as their new defensive coordinator.

Allen, who is the favorite to join coach Ben Johnson’s staff, since Johnson’s employment, adds experience and a first -class DC to Chicago. pic.twitter.com/oypiftgfb9

– Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet) January 27, 2025

Allen spent the last three seasons as head coach in New Orleans, though he was fired after only nine games in the past season. It marked his second stay as head coach in the league after a three -year race with Oakland Raiders. Allen was Denver Broncos ‘defensive coordinator for a year before his stay in Oakland, and then he spent seven seasons like Saints’ defensive coordinator before being promoted to the top job in 2022.

Allen went only 18-25 and failed to get into the playoffs in his time as leading Saints. He was fired after a harsh late loss to Carolina Panthers, who limited a loss of seven matches after back-to-back victories to start the year.

Doyle spent the last two seasons of broncos, working as their tight-end coach. Before that spent the 28-year-old Iowa candidate four seasons with Saints along with Allen as an offensive assistant coach in what was his first job in the league.

Johnson, after spending the past three seasons such as Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was hired to replace Matt Eberflus in Chicago earlier this month. He also retained Special Team coordinator Richard Hightower on Sunday. Now with three of his main coordinators in place, he can start working on turning the franchise and leading them to what would be their first playoff appearance for half a decade.