Sometimes, the person who helps you make a career-changing decision becomes one of your biggest competitors. That's the situation Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle faces this week. He is preparing to face the Cleveland Browns and their first-year head coach, Todd Monken, a coach whose perspective helped convince Doyle that Baltimore was the right place for him.
Doyle arrived in Baltimore with an opportunity to lead an offense built around Lamar Jackson and take another significant step in his coaching career. Before accepting the job, however, he sought advice from someone who understood the organization, its players, and what it takes to work there. Monken had spent the previous three seasons as Baltimore's offensive coordinator before leaving to become Cleveland's head coach, giving him a perspective Doyle valued.
"I've known 'Monk' [Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken] for a long time, [even] just as a kid. I've had a lot of full-circle moments in the last little while, but this is certainly one of those. I've followed him for a long time from afar. I followed him while he was here and studied their offense and the way he did it. I think there are things you pull from anybody. I think that he's done a great job with what's been given to him, and he's done a great job in Cleveland. But talking to him before this job, I guess his advice to me was, 'Take the job. This is one that works if you make it work, and there are a lot of pieces here to be able to win.'"
Their connection also goes beyond football. Monken knew Doyle's father, Chris, from their time together as graduate assistants with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the early 1990s. That history made the conversation more meaningful, but Monken's assessment of the Ravens helped shape Doyle's decision.
When asked on Thursday, during his media session, about Monken's influence on his decision to join Baltimore, Doyle made it clear that the former Ravens offensive coordinator had plenty of positive things to say about the organization.
"So, when I spoke to him about it, he spoke glowingly of the organization, the people, the players – all those things. He certainly had a big influence. If he had said, 'Hey, don't touch that place,' I would have placed a lot of value in that, but that was not the case. He had obviously really good things to say, and it's kind of led us here. So, I appreciated that advice. I really enjoy working with our players. I enjoy working with the staff, and I'm glad that he gave me that advice."
That endorsement carried weight because Doyle was considering more than a new title. He was leaving the Chicago Bears after serving as offensive coordinator under Ben Johnson and accepting the responsibility of building his own offensive system in Baltimore. The opportunity to work with a two-time MVP quarterback in Jackson, alongside a new coaching staff led by Jesse Minter, made the position especially appealing.
Monken's experience in Baltimore gave Doyle an informed perspective on what awaited him. His recommendation wasn't the only factor in the decision, but it reassured Doyle about the people and environment he would be joining.
The irony is difficult to miss. Monken helped encourage Doyle to join an organization he knew well, only for the two coaches to end up on opposite sidelines in the AFC North. They now face the challenge of preparing for one another, with Monken leading a Cleveland team that has shown renewed confidence and Doyle directing Baltimore's offense.
That familiarity creates an interesting subplot, but Doyle's decision ultimately came down to the opportunity in front of him. Monken could speak to the Ravens' culture and personnel because he experienced them firsthand, helping Doyle see the job's potential before he accepted it.
Now, the two offensive coaches have to put that shared history aside for a divisional matchup. Monken helped Doyle find his way to Baltimore, but neither coach will be doing the other any favors when the Ravens and Browns meet.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Todd Monken helped convince Declan Doyle to take Ravens OC job