OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) 鈥� Declan Doyle’s relationship with Lamar Jackson began while interviewing to become the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator.
Doyle spoke to the two-time NFL MVP for over an hour on a video call and it seems that lengthy conversation went very well.
鈥淚 really wanted to see if we were compatible,鈥� Doyle said Wednesday as first-year head coach Jesse Minter introduced his three newly hired coordinators. “And if that was a fit.鈥�
The 29-year-old Doyle ultimately accepted Minter’s offer after a year as Chicago’s offensive coordinator. With the Bears, Doyle helped second-year quarterback Caleb Williams while reaching his first postseason.
In Baltimore, he’ll add the role of primary play-caller and the challenge of helping Jackson, also 29, return to the level that twice earned him the league’s top individual honor.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been too young for every job I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淎nd what I鈥檝e noticed is it really doesn鈥檛 matter. Knowledge is power and if they feel like you can help them, if they feel like you can help accelerate their career and our goals as a team, guys are willing to listen, to be taught and to grow and to work together.鈥�
Jackson threw only 21 touchdown passes last season, his fewest when making at least 13 starts, and rushed for a career-low 349 yards. The Ravens missed the playoffs for only the second time since drafting Jackson in 2018, precipitating John Harbaugh’s firing and Minter’s arrival.
Doyle praised Jackson’s 鈥渉unger to learn鈥� and suggested his clearest path to improvement is within the scripted offense.
鈥淭he challenge with him for a defense is that they have to defend two plays on every play,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淭hey have to defend the first play that we call … and then they have to defend the second element, which is him creating on his own. That second act, that鈥檚 the stuff that he鈥檚 done since he was a kid.
“That first play can be more consistent at times 鈥� with his eyes, with his footwork, within the system.鈥�
Minter also introduced and special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr.
Weaver played four of his seven NFL seasons in Baltimore, held multiple assistant roles under Harbaugh and interviewed for the Ravens’ head coaching position, among others. However, Minter will call defensive plays.
鈥淭his job, and being a coach here with this staff and these players, is hardly a consolation prize,鈥� said Weaver, who was also previously a DC in Houston and Miami. 鈥淚鈥檇 be lying to you if I said seriously that I wasn鈥檛 disappointed that I didn鈥檛 get a head job. But ultimately, I just came back to, why am I doing this to begin with?
“Selfishly, I鈥檓 in it to try and win a Super Bowl, right? To be part of a group that鈥檚 forever. … Secondly, I鈥檓 here to serve. I鈥檓 here to serve players and help them reach whatever God-given potential they have.
“I don鈥檛 need to be a head coach to do that.鈥�
___
AP NFL:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
