The Bears have elected to apply the next man up philosophy within their offensive coaching hierarchy.
Chicago is promoting passing game coordinator Press Taylor to offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday morning.
Taylor, hired on by Ben Johnson when the coach was putting together his staff last year, will replace Declan Doyle, gone to serve as the Ravens OC.
Taylor got his start in the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Eagles in 2013, eventually rising to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator with Philadelphia in 2020.
He then served as a senior offensive assistant with the Colts in 2021 before getting his first shot at an OC job with the Jaguars from 2022-24. With those Jags under head coach Doug Pederson, Taylor coached an offense that finished 10th in both points and yards in his first year, during which he called plays in the second halves of games.
He subsequently took over as full-time play-caller, but Jacksonville experienced diminished returns. The offense finished 13th in scoring and yards in 2023 and slid all the way to 25th in scoring and 26th in yards in Taylor's final season there, after which the organization cleaned house.
Regardless, Taylor will not be called upon to call plays in Chicago.
Still considered a bright, young NFL mind at 38, he'll assist play-caller Ben Johnson install the game plan and keep an offense coming off its most points scored since 2013 rolling.
At the Bears' disposal will be a promising core of quarterback Caleb Williams, running back duo D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai and pass catchers Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland.
It's now up to Johnson and his new right-hand man, Taylor, to continue producing after an electric run to the NFC Divisional Round.
