Oregon head coach Dan Lanning’s words from earlier this year offer a big clue about his future while NFL head coaching rumors swirl
Oregon Ducks fans are still fresh off an offseason of dealing with rumors of head coach Dan Lanning leaving the program, as last year he was linked to the suddenly-vacant Alabama head coaching opportunity after legendary coach Nick Saban retired. Apparently, Oregon fans aren't allowed to have nice things and simply enjoy their time as the […]
Oregon Ducks fans are still fresh off an offseason of dealing with rumors of head coach Dan Lanning leaving the program, as last year he was linked to the suddenly-vacant Alabama head coaching opportunity after legendary coach Nick Saban retired.
Apparently, Oregon fans aren't allowed to have nice things and simply enjoy their time as the No. 1 team in the country with dreams of a National Championship, as a recent report has come out saying that Lanning is drawing interest from the NFL.
*mumbles in frustration*
Oregon fans definitely have some scar tissue around subjects like this topic. After leading the Ducks to the 2011 BCS National Championship Game against Auburn that saw them fall short to Cam Newton, Kelly stayed in Eugene for a couple years before taking the head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
Ever since, the head coaching position has been a carousel of inconsistency at Oregon, of coaches using the Oregon opportunity as a stepping stone to something perceived to be bigger and better. Mark Helfrich was there from 2013-2016, followed by Willie Taggart, who promised the moon before jumping to Florida State after only one season. Next up was Mario Cristobal from 2017-2021, who again left to be the head coach at Miami. After Bryan McClendon served as the interim head coach in 2021, Lanning was hired for the position in 2022. He has set the tone and the culture and built a powerhouse that is now the No. 1 team in the country in their first season in the Big Ten.
When Lanning was linked to Alabama last offseason, you could feel the palpable panic amongst Ducks fans. Last November, Lanning was asked about the rumors, and he had plenty of direct things to say.
Lanning stressed that he has everything that he could want at Oregon. "I'm not going anywhere. There's zero chance that I would be coaching anywhere else."
There's no reason to believe that his stance has changed when his first full season in the Big Ten has him atop the college football universe, drawing some of the best recruits in the country to come play for him. For now, it's fair to take Lanning at his word.
The saying "the grass is always greener" exists as a cautionary tale for a reason. Oregon, and Lanning, respond to that with a resounding "the grass is damn green in Eugene."
Oregon Ducks elite playmaker out to continue recent trend after accepting Senior Bowl invitation.
It’s a golden opportunity.
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