Coaching changes occur every offseason, but not all hires carry the same weight. For the Baltimore Ravens, no assistant coaching move will have a greater impact on the 2026 season than the arrival of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

At just 29 years old, Doyle is already regarded as one of the NFL’s fastest-rising offensive minds. Now, he inherits one of the league’s most talented offenses and the responsibility that comes with it: helping Lamar Jackson finally lead Baltimore back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens have assembled a roster capable of competing for a championship. Jackson is a two-time MVP and remains one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Derrick Henry is coming off another dominant campaign. Zay Flowers has developed into a two-time Pro Bowl receiver, while Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, and veteran tight end Mark Andrews provide additional firepower.

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The challenge for Doyle will not be finding talent.

It will be maximizing it.

Doyle’s rapid rise through the coaching ranks explains why Baltimore targeted him for the position. Before arriving in Baltimore, he spent two seasons as the Denver Broncos‘ tight ends coach, working under Sean Payton. He then joined Ben Johnson’s staff in Chicago as offensive coordinator, helping oversee one of the NFL’s most productive offenses, even as Johnson retained play-calling duties. Prior to Denver, Doyle spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints as an offensive assistant. During that span, New Orleans posted a 41-25 record and saw eight players combine for 12 Pro Bowl selections.

His background offers clues about what Baltimore’s offense could become.

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The coaches Doyle has worked under have shown a willingness to build offenses around elite playmakers. Johnson’s Detroit offenses consistently featured Amon-Ra St. Brown as the centerpiece of the passing game. In Denver, Courtland Sutton emerged as the unquestioned focal point of the aerial attack under Payton’s influence.

That philosophy could have major implications for Flowers.

Already coming off consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, Flowers could be positioned for a significant increase in targets if Doyle chooses to funnel more of the passing game through his top receiver. Such an approach could unlock another level of production for Baltimore’s young star while creating more favorable opportunities for the rest of the offense.

Ultimately, Doyle’s success will be measured by more than statistics. The Ravens have won regular-season games, division titles, and MVP awards. What has remained elusive is a return to the Super Bowl. That reality makes Doyle’s arrival the most important assistant coaching change in Baltimore this offseason. The Ravens are handing the keys to a championship-caliber offense to one of football’s brightest young minds.

Now comes the opportunity—and the pressure—to deliver results.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens OC Declan Doyle faces biggest challenge of any coach in 2026