Chad Johnson has openly criticized the Baltimore Ravens’ approach to managing Lamar Jackson during the offseason, highlighting tensions arising from comments by new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The controversy unfolded around voluntary offseason workouts (OTAs), where Doyle made public statements emphasizing the importance of player attendance, aiming to set a championship-level standard.
Doyle, who joined the Ravens in early February after Todd Monken departed for the Cleveland Browns, addressed the topic during his introductory press conference.
“We would expect them to be here and certainly it is voluntary,”
Doyle said.
“But also, if you want to say that you’re going to win a championship, you want to say that you have championship standards.”
Chad Johnson Criticizes Public Message Directed at Franchise Quarterback
Johnson expressed strong disapproval of Doyle’s decision to make attendance at OTAs a public talking point, particularly as it related to Lamar Jackson. Speaking on the Nightcap show, Johnson argued that such messages should be handled privately rather than aired openly, fearing it could damage the relationship with the star quarterback.
“You don’t do that coming in as a new coach! It’s dumb and it’s stupid! Why would you piss off your QB with a message like that! It’s stupid!” Johnson said. “If you want Lamar to show up, you text him [privately]. How is coming at your franchise QB publicly supposed to help anything?”
?Chad Johnson, Former NFL Player
Johnson’s reaction underscores the tension between leadership’s expectations and player management, particularly around a pivotal figure like Jackson.
Background on Doyle’s Interaction with Lamar Jackson
According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Doyle has maintained open communication with Jackson since joining the Ravens. This includes multiple in-person meetings and at least one lengthy video call during his hiring process, supplemented by regular text exchanges. Despite this contact, Johnson suggests that Doyle could have addressed attendance concerns more discretely rather than making them public.
Declan Doyle took over offensive coordinator duties on February 2, following Todd Monken’s exit at the end of January. Monken left Baltimore to become the coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Doyle’s Offensive Strategy Focused on Lamar Jackson’s Strengths
In an effort to optimize Lamar Jackson’s performance, Doyle shared insights on his offensive philosophy during an appearance on Ari Meirov’s podcast. He emphasized the importance of tailoring the offense to suit Jackson’s abilities rather than imposing system components that worked for other quarterbacks.
“You try to shape the offense around the player,” Doyles said on Saturday on Ari Meirov’s podcast. “We try to really give him a lot initially to see what he can handle, and from there it’s our job to shape it so he has success.
Doyle’s approach aims to build a cohesive offensive system that leverages Jackson’s unique skills, avoiding pitfalls that come from applying generic playbooks indiscriminately.
Potential Repercussions of the Offseason Controversy
The public disagreement over Lamar Jackson’s voluntary OTAs participation reveals underlying strains in the Ravens’ offseason dynamics. Given Jackson’s status as a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL MVP, maintaining a positive relationship between him and the coaching staff is crucial for Baltimore’s success.
How the team navigates this controversy could influence Jackson’s commitment moving forward and shape the Ravens’ trajectory heading into the 2024-25 NFL season. Keeping star players motivated and aligned with coaching philosophies remains a critical challenge for newly installed leaders like Doyle and head coach Jesse Minter.
Unc and Ocho get into it over Declan Doyle’s message about offseason work. Was that meant for Lamar? Ocho pushes back hard 👀@ShannonSharpe @ochocinco @TheJoeJohnson7 #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/49VNx9W63p
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) February 20, 2026
