Football
Lanning, Dan
Dan Lanning
- Title:
- Head Coach
Dan Lanning was officially announced as the 35th head coach in Oregon football history on December 11, 2021, as athletic director Rob Mullens brought one of college football’s brightest young coaches and top defensive minds to Eugene to lead the Ducks.
Lanning has led Oregon to a terrific 35-6 overall record while posting double-digit wins in each of his first three seasons. He owns the most wins by any Oregon head coach through his first three seasons, and his 36 wins since 2022 rank third among all FBS head coaches.
On March 7, 2025, Mullens announced that UO agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep Lanning in Eugene through the 2030 season.
"Oregon football has reached historic heights under Dan's leadership," Mullens said. "His relentless commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience is evident in the culture he has fostered within his program. His dedication to this university, our student-athletes and the city of Eugene has put Oregon football in position to compete for championships on a yearly basis.”
In his first season as the Ducks’ head coach, Lanning led Oregon to a 10-3 record and a win over North Carolina in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl. Lanning became the third Oregon head coach to win 10 games in his first season, and the first since Mark Helfrich in 2013.
The Ducks took another step forward under Lanning in 2023, going 12-2 overall with an appearance in the final Pac-12 Championship Game and a win over Liberty in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Lanning improved to 22-5 through his first two seasons in Eugene and became just the second Oregon head coach to win each of his first two bowl game appearances.
Lanning led the Ducks to a historic season in 2024, as Oregon went undefeated in the regular season before winning the Big Ten Championship in its first year in the conference. UO earned the No. 1 seed in the newly-expanded 12-team College Football Playoff while matching the program record with 13 wins. Lanning joined Chip Kelly as the only Oregon head coaches ever to post back-to-back 12-win seasons.
PATH TO EUGENE
Lanning came to Oregon after spending the previous four seasons at Georgia, including the last three as defensive coordinator. He directed the top defense in the nation in his three seasons as defensive coordinator, and helped lead the Bulldogs to the national championship before taking over full-time as Oregon’s new head coach.
A two-time finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, Lanning joined Georgia in 2018 as outside linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator.
A Missouri native, Lanning began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2011, and also had stints at Arizona State (2012-13), Sam Houston State (2014), Alabama (2015), and Memphis (2016-17). He made his on-field collegiate coaching debut at Sam Houston State as the defensive backs coach.
As an assistant coach, Lanning has been to and won four of the New Year’s Six bowl games, including national titles with both Georgia in 2022 and Alabama in 2015. In four years with Lanning on staff, Georgia also won three SEC Eastern Division titles (2018-19, 2021) and reached back-to-back Allstate Sugar Bowls (2018-19), the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (2020), and the Capital One Orange Bowl (2021, CFP Semifinal).
BIG TEN CHAMPS (2024)
Lanning took the Ducks to historic new heights in his third season, leading Oregon to the Big Ten Championship in the program’s first year in the league. The Ducks went a perfect 12-0 in the regular season for the second time in program history, joining the 2010 team that played in the national championship game. Oregon was the only FBS team to go undefeated in the regular season in 2024.
Oregon defeated No. 3 Penn State, 45-37, in the Big Ten Championship Game to secure the conference title, the fifth league championship game victory in program history. The Ducks matched the program record with their 13th win, tying the 2014 team, and also secured the No. 1 seed in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Ducks’ path to the Big Ten title and the top seed in the CFP was a challenging one, as they secured wins over three teams that made the 12-team CFP field. Oregon pulled out narrow victories over Boise State (No. 3 seed) and Ohio State (No. 8) in the regular season before taking down Penn State (No. 5) in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Lanning guided the Ducks to a No. 1 national ranking for the first time since 2012, earning the top spot ahead of a win over No. 20 Illinois on Oct. 26 and holding it throughout the rest of the season. UO won six straight games as the nation’s top-ranked team before falling to Ohio State in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game to close the year.
Oregon’s win over No. 2 ranked and eventual national champion Ohio State on Oct. 12, 2024, went down as one of the most significant regular-season victories in program history. The No. 3 Ducks secured their highest-ranked win ever in Autzen Stadium while matching the highest-ranked win in program history, earning UO’s ninth win all-time over a top-five team. The victory came in front of an Autzen Stadium record 60,129 fans, with most of them rushing the field to cap a day that ended with thousands of fans flooding the quad on campus for ESPN’s College GameDay.
Lanning led Oregon to an undefeated home schedule for the second year in a row, going 7-0 while playing in front of four of the 14 largest crowds in Autzen history. Oregon extended its home winning streak to 15 games and improved to 38-1 (.974) at home since an overtime loss to Stanford on Sept. 22, 2018. The Ducks also went 2-0 in nonconference play at home to extend the nation’s longest active nonconference home winning streak to 34 games.
After losing Heisman Trophy finalist and first-round NFL Draft pick Bo Nix at quarterback, Lanning and the Ducks once again went to the transfer portal to find an experienced signal caller. UO brought in sixth-year QB Dillon Gabriel, who followed in Nix’s footsteps and became the fifth Duck ever to be a Heisman Trophy finalist while also being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Gabriel made college football history in his lone season in Eugene, becoming the FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) while tying Case Keenum for the all-time passing touchdowns record (155). He also finished second all-time in career passing yards (18,722) and total yards (19,931), and broke Nix’s previous record for career starts by an FBS quarterback with 63. Gabriel threw for a career-high 3,857 yards for the Ducks while matching his career high with 30 touchdown passes.
For the second year in a row, Oregon’s defense proved to be a strength of the team. The Ducks ranked 16th nationally in scoring defense (19.4 PPG) and 15th in total defense (315.9 YPG) while tying for fifth in pass breakups (63) and 14th in sacks (40). Sophomore Matayo Uiagalelei led the Big Ten in the regular season with 10.5 sacks, and junior Derrick Harmon led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 total pressures generated.
The 2024 team produced a program record 12 players who were invited to the NFL Combine, setting the stage for what is expected to be another historic NFL Draft for Lanning’s program.
GOOD TO GREAT (2023)
Following a solid 10-win season in 2022 to begin his Oregon career, Lanning tasked his team with going from “good to great” in year two. The Ducks were once again in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation, reaching the final Pac-12 Championship Game and closing the year with a win over Liberty in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to finish 12-2 overall.
The 2023 Ducks were arguably the most complete team in the nation, leading the country in average scoring differential at +27.71 and finishing as one of just three schools in the top 10 nationally for both scoring offense (2nd, 44.2 PPG) and scoring defense (9th, 16.5 PPG). UO also tied for fourth nationally with a plus-11 turnover margin.
Oregon’s potent offense was led by quarterback Bo Nix for the second season in a row, as the fifth-year senior put together one of the greatest seasons ever by a UO quarterback. Nix was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and became the fourth Duck ever to be invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist on the strength of a record-breaking season. Nix set a new NCAA single-season record for completion percentage at 77.45 (364-of-470), and also broke the Oregon single-season records for completions, passing yards (4,508) and passing touchdowns (45).
The dynamic UO offense led the nation in passing offense (346.9 YPG) behind Nix, while also ranking second in total offense (531.4 YPG) and finishing as the only team in the country to score at least 30 points in every game. The Ducks led the nation in fewest sacks allowed with five for the second year in a row, and also led the nation with 26.6 first downs per game.
Nix wasn’t the only Duck to make history in 2023, as receiver Troy Franklin shattered UO single-season records for receiving yards (1,383), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (8). Fellow receiver Tez Johnson also broke the program record for receptions in a season with 86, and center Jackson Powers-Johnson became the fifth unanimous first-team all-American in program history while winning the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center.
Oregon’s electric offense was supported by a vastly improved defensive unit, which took a massive leap forward in Lanning’s second season. The Ducks were one of just six teams in the nation to give up more than 10 points no more than eight times, and finished ninth in the country in scoring defense (16.5 PPG) after ranking 74th in 2022.
The UO defense ranked 11th nationally with just 102.57 rushing yards allowed per game, the fewest by an Oregon team since 1989, following a 2022 season in which it ranked 102nd in ground defense. The Ducks also ranked 22nd nationally in total defense (318.4 YPG), an improvement of 49 spots from 2022.
Lanning’s 2023 team produced a program-record eight NFL Draft selections, led by Nix with the No. 12 overall pick by the Denver Broncos. Powers-Johnson went in the second round to the Las Vegas Raiders, while the quintet of Franklin (Denver), Khyree Jackson (Minnesota), Brandon Dorlus (Atlanta), Evan Williams (Green Bay) and Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay) all went in a span of 23 picks in the fourth round. Jamal Hill (Houston) was taken in the sixth round to complete Oregon’s historic draft.
10-WIN DEBUT (2022)
Lanning had the Ducks in the national conversation throughout his first season as a head coach in 2023, guiding Oregon to 10 wins and a victory in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl.
After a tough loss to his former team and the eventual national champion Georgia Bulldogs to open his Oregon career, Lanning and the Ducks bounced back to win eight consecutive games and were in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. A late-season injury to quarterback Bo Nix loomed large in a pair of tight losses to Washington and Oregon State, but the Ducks finished strong with a comeback win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.
Despite his background in elite defense, the calling card for Lanning’s first Oregon team was an electric offense led by Nix. The Ducks were the only team in the nation to rank in the top 20 in both rushing offense (12th, 215.77 YPG) and passing offense (17th, 284.8 YPG) while tying for ninth in scoring offense (38.8 PPG), and boasted the country’s top offensive line with just five sacks allowed.
Nix was phenomenal in his first season as a Duck, before announcing he would return to Oregon for a fifth season of college football in 2023. The UO quarterback ranked fifth in the nation with 44 total touchdowns while setting a new UO single-season record for completion percentage at 71.9, second-best in the nation. Nix led all FBS quarterbacks with 14 rushing touchdowns, the second-most ever in a season by an Oregon quarterback.
Lanning’s inaugural Oregon defense was led by a trio of NFL Draft picks in cornerback Christian Gonzalez, defensive end DJ Johnson and linebacker Noah Sewell. Gonzalez led Oregon with four interceptions and went on to be the No. 17 overall pick by the New England Patriots. Johnson led the Ducks in sacks and was a third-round pick by the Carolina Panthers, and Sewell capped a productive three-year Oregon career as a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears. The trio made up half of a six-player NFL Draft class in 2023, the most for the Ducks since 2009.
Lanning became the fifth head coach in Oregon history to reach 10 wins in a season, and just the third to do so in his debut season in Eugene.
ELITE DEFENSE
Lanning oversaw the nation’s top overall defense in his three seasons as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, including a historically dominant unit in 2021 as he helped lead the Bulldogs to their third-ever national championship and first since 1980.
In three seasons with Lanning coordinating the defense, Georgia led the country in combined scoring defense (13.6 points per game) and rushing defense (75.7 yards per game), while also ranking No. 2 in total defense (284.3 yards per game).
Lanning’s 2021 Georgia defense led the nation in scoring defense by a wide margin at just 10.2 points per game, 4.6 points per game better than any other team in the country. During 12 regular season contests, Georgia’s opponents mustered just 6.9 points per game.
The Bulldogs’ defense was especially impressive during the 2021 College Football Playoff, with Lanning’s unit fueling the program to the national title. Georgia held Michigan to just 11 points in the CFP semifinal, and then limited an Alabama offense that averaged 41.4 points per game to just 18 points in the national title game.
The 2021 Georgia defense allowed just 16 touchdowns all season under Lanning, five fewer than any other team in the country. The Bulldogs held opponents to 10 points or less nine times in 15 games, and Georgia played 11 full quarters to start the season before surrendering a touchdown. In back-to-back games vs. Vanderbilt and Arkansas, Lanning’s unit pitched consecutive shutouts while winning by a combined score of 99-0.
Georgia’s historic 2021 season also saw the Bulldogs lead the nation in red-zone defense (62.5 score %), while ranking second in total defense (267.9 YPG), rushing defense (78.87 YPG) and yards allowed per play (4.15), and fourth in sacks (49.0). Georgia also had a stout passing defense, ranking 12th overall at 189.1 yards per game.
Lanning also directed the nation’s top scoring defense in 2019 – his first year as defensive coordinator – when the Bulldogs allowed just 12.6 points per game. Georgia led the country in rushing defense (74.6 YPG) and set a school record with an FBS-best two rushing touchdowns allowed, while ranking second nationally in yards allowed per play (4.29) and third in total defense (275.7 YPG).
In a 26-14 win over Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl to cap the 2019 season, Lanning’s defense held the Bears scoreless in the first half and allowed just 61 rushing yards and 295 total yards.
Lanning’s unit led the nation in rushing defense (72.3 YPG) for the second year in a row in 2020 while ranking 12th in total defense (321.0 YPG) and 16th in scoring defense (20.0 PPG). In a 44-21 win over Tennessee, Georgia allowed an incredible minus-1 rushing yards and 214 total yards while recording three forced fumbles and an interception.
The Bulldogs closed out the 2020 season with a thrilling performance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, with Lanning’s defense holding No. 8 Cincinnati scoreless in the fourth quarter as Georgia scored 14 unanswered points to win, 24-21.
In Lanning’s first season at Georgia as the outside linebackers coach in 2018, the Bulldogs ranked 13th nationally in total defense (314.3 YPG) and 14th in scoring defense (19.2 PPG).
Lanning was the inside linebackers coach at Memphis in 2016 and 2017, helping lead a defense that ranked in the top five nationally in turnovers gained both years.
RELENTLESS RECRUITER
Lanning is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country. At the time of his hiring at Oregon, 247Sports listed Lanning as the No. 8 ranked recruiter in the nation.
Oregon’s new head coach immediately went to work on the recruiting trail upon arriving in Eugene, signing a 2022 class that 247Sports regarded as the 13th best in the country and best in the Pac-12 entering the season. Lanning’s initial UO class included five-star offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr., as well as 10 four-star recruits.
Lanning continued his recruiting momentum into 2023, landing a consensus top-10 class that was headlined by five-star receiver Jurrion Dickey and five-star edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei. Lanning also showed a knack for attacking the transfer portal early in his Oregon tenure, landing key contributors like Nix, Gonzalez and running back Bucky Irving for 2022 before signing receiver Tez Johnson, offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius and defensive end Jordan Burch among a flurry of transfer additions for 2023.
Lanning’s momentum on the recruiting trail carried into year three, with the Ducks’ 2024 recruiting class ranking as the best in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the nation according to 247Sports. Five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing headlined the class, followed by a whopping 13 four-star prospects. Lanning also continued to make waves in the transfer portal, landing impact players such as quarterback Dillon Gabriel, receiver Evan Stewart, and defensive backs Jabbar Muhammad, Kam Alexander and Kobe Savage, among others.
Lanning and the Ducks inked the nation’s No. 5 ranked recruiting class for 2025, led by five-star signees Dakorien Moore, Na’eem Offord and Trey McNutt. Oregon was active in the transfer portal once again, landing impact players such as defensive back Dillon Thieneman, running back Makhi Hughes and offensive linemen Isaiah World, Emmanuel Pregnon and Alex Harkey, among others.
At Georgia, Lanning was the lead recruiter for linebacker Nakobe Dean, the eventual 2021 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker and first-team all-American. Dean was 247Sports’ No. 2 ranked inside linebacker in the 2019 class and No. 19 player overall.
Lanning played a huge role in Georgia signing defensive end Nolan Smith, the top-ranked overall player in the 2019 class. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Smith has racked up 81 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and an interception.
According to 247Sports, Lanning has received commitments from five five-star prospects and 14 four-star recruits.
Lanning was the on-campus recruiting coordinator at Arizona State in 2013, helping the Sun Devils land a top-20 signing class. Lanning was also the co-recruiting coordinator during his year at Sam Houston State in 2014.
DEVELOPING STARS
Lanning had proven his ability as a talent developer prior to landing his first head coaching job, mentoring some of the top defensive players in all of college football throughout his career.
In 2021, Lanning coordinated an elite Georgia defense that was led by a pair of first-team all-Americans in defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt joined Davis and Dean on the all-SEC first team, and three more Bulldogs earned second-team honors.
Davis was an absolute force in the middle of the Bulldog defense, winning the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player as well as the Outland Trophy as the top FBS interior lineman. He joined Ndamukong Suh (2009, Nebraska) and Aaron Donald (2013, Pittsburgh) as the only players to win the Bednarik Award and the Outland Trophy in the same season.
Dean took home the 2021 Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country, becoming the second Bulldog to win the honor in its 37-year history. Dean was second on the team with 72 tackles while adding a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
That 2021 defense enjoyed a historic 2022 NFL Draft, with a whopping eight players from Lanning’s unit being selected. That group was led defensive end Travon Walker, who went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Walker was joined by Davis (Philadelphia, No. 13), linebacker Quay Walker (Green Bay, No. 22), Wyatt (Green Bay, No. 28) and safety Lewis Cine (Minnesota, No. 32) in the first round as Georgia became the first defense ever to have five first-round selections in the same draft. Dean and fellow linebacker Channing Tindall both went in the third round to give Lanning’s defense seven picks in the first three rounds.
In 2020, Lanning coached a defense that featured four 2021 NFL Draft selections. Defensive back Eric Stokes was taken by the Green Bay Packers with the 29th overall pick after putting together a first-team all-American season with four interceptions.
Defensive back Tyson Campbell went four picks after Stokes at No. 33 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker Azeez Ojulari was taken at No. 50 by the New York Giants. Ojulari led the SEC in sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (3) while ranking second in tackles for loss (11.5). Linebacker Monty Rice went to the Tennessee Titans in the third round with the 92nd overall pick.
Lanning’s 2019 Georgia defense was led by safety J.R. Reed, who earned all-America honors by four different outlets. Linebacker Tae Crowder was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and was taken by the Giants with the final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
In his first season at Georgia in 2018, Lanning coached outside linebacker D’Andre Walker to a second-team all-SEC selection. Walker led the team in sacks and tackles for loss and was a fifth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 NFL Draft.
As the inside linebackers coach at Memphis (2016-17), Lanning coached a two-time first-team all-AAC selection in linebacker Genard Avery, a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Lanning made his on-field collegiate coaching debut at Sam Houston State in 2014 as the defensive backs coach, mentoring three players who earned all-Southland Conference honors. Trenier Orr also received all-America recognition.
PLAYING CAREER & PERSONAL
Born in North Kansas City, Mo., Lanning spent his playing days as a linebacker at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physical education and secondary education in 2008.
Lanning began his coaching career at Park Hill South High School in Missouri after earning his degree, spending three seasons as the special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers coach. During that time, he completed coursework for his Master’s degree in secondary administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.
Lanning and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons – Caden, Kniles, and Titan.
THE LANNING FILE
COACHING CAREER
BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
Lanning has led Oregon to a terrific 35-6 overall record while posting double-digit wins in each of his first three seasons. He owns the most wins by any Oregon head coach through his first three seasons, and his 36 wins since 2022 rank third among all FBS head coaches.
On March 7, 2025, Mullens announced that UO agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep Lanning in Eugene through the 2030 season.
"Oregon football has reached historic heights under Dan's leadership," Mullens said. "His relentless commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience is evident in the culture he has fostered within his program. His dedication to this university, our student-athletes and the city of Eugene has put Oregon football in position to compete for championships on a yearly basis.”
In his first season as the Ducks’ head coach, Lanning led Oregon to a 10-3 record and a win over North Carolina in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl. Lanning became the third Oregon head coach to win 10 games in his first season, and the first since Mark Helfrich in 2013.
The Ducks took another step forward under Lanning in 2023, going 12-2 overall with an appearance in the final Pac-12 Championship Game and a win over Liberty in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Lanning improved to 22-5 through his first two seasons in Eugene and became just the second Oregon head coach to win each of his first two bowl game appearances.
Lanning led the Ducks to a historic season in 2024, as Oregon went undefeated in the regular season before winning the Big Ten Championship in its first year in the conference. UO earned the No. 1 seed in the newly-expanded 12-team College Football Playoff while matching the program record with 13 wins. Lanning joined Chip Kelly as the only Oregon head coaches ever to post back-to-back 12-win seasons.
PATH TO EUGENE
Lanning came to Oregon after spending the previous four seasons at Georgia, including the last three as defensive coordinator. He directed the top defense in the nation in his three seasons as defensive coordinator, and helped lead the Bulldogs to the national championship before taking over full-time as Oregon’s new head coach.
A two-time finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, Lanning joined Georgia in 2018 as outside linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator.
A Missouri native, Lanning began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2011, and also had stints at Arizona State (2012-13), Sam Houston State (2014), Alabama (2015), and Memphis (2016-17). He made his on-field collegiate coaching debut at Sam Houston State as the defensive backs coach.
As an assistant coach, Lanning has been to and won four of the New Year’s Six bowl games, including national titles with both Georgia in 2022 and Alabama in 2015. In four years with Lanning on staff, Georgia also won three SEC Eastern Division titles (2018-19, 2021) and reached back-to-back Allstate Sugar Bowls (2018-19), the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (2020), and the Capital One Orange Bowl (2021, CFP Semifinal).
BIG TEN CHAMPS (2024)
Lanning took the Ducks to historic new heights in his third season, leading Oregon to the Big Ten Championship in the program’s first year in the league. The Ducks went a perfect 12-0 in the regular season for the second time in program history, joining the 2010 team that played in the national championship game. Oregon was the only FBS team to go undefeated in the regular season in 2024.
Oregon defeated No. 3 Penn State, 45-37, in the Big Ten Championship Game to secure the conference title, the fifth league championship game victory in program history. The Ducks matched the program record with their 13th win, tying the 2014 team, and also secured the No. 1 seed in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Ducks’ path to the Big Ten title and the top seed in the CFP was a challenging one, as they secured wins over three teams that made the 12-team CFP field. Oregon pulled out narrow victories over Boise State (No. 3 seed) and Ohio State (No. 8) in the regular season before taking down Penn State (No. 5) in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Lanning guided the Ducks to a No. 1 national ranking for the first time since 2012, earning the top spot ahead of a win over No. 20 Illinois on Oct. 26 and holding it throughout the rest of the season. UO won six straight games as the nation’s top-ranked team before falling to Ohio State in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game to close the year.
Oregon’s win over No. 2 ranked and eventual national champion Ohio State on Oct. 12, 2024, went down as one of the most significant regular-season victories in program history. The No. 3 Ducks secured their highest-ranked win ever in Autzen Stadium while matching the highest-ranked win in program history, earning UO’s ninth win all-time over a top-five team. The victory came in front of an Autzen Stadium record 60,129 fans, with most of them rushing the field to cap a day that ended with thousands of fans flooding the quad on campus for ESPN’s College GameDay.
Lanning led Oregon to an undefeated home schedule for the second year in a row, going 7-0 while playing in front of four of the 14 largest crowds in Autzen history. Oregon extended its home winning streak to 15 games and improved to 38-1 (.974) at home since an overtime loss to Stanford on Sept. 22, 2018. The Ducks also went 2-0 in nonconference play at home to extend the nation’s longest active nonconference home winning streak to 34 games.
After losing Heisman Trophy finalist and first-round NFL Draft pick Bo Nix at quarterback, Lanning and the Ducks once again went to the transfer portal to find an experienced signal caller. UO brought in sixth-year QB Dillon Gabriel, who followed in Nix’s footsteps and became the fifth Duck ever to be a Heisman Trophy finalist while also being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Gabriel made college football history in his lone season in Eugene, becoming the FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) while tying Case Keenum for the all-time passing touchdowns record (155). He also finished second all-time in career passing yards (18,722) and total yards (19,931), and broke Nix’s previous record for career starts by an FBS quarterback with 63. Gabriel threw for a career-high 3,857 yards for the Ducks while matching his career high with 30 touchdown passes.
For the second year in a row, Oregon’s defense proved to be a strength of the team. The Ducks ranked 16th nationally in scoring defense (19.4 PPG) and 15th in total defense (315.9 YPG) while tying for fifth in pass breakups (63) and 14th in sacks (40). Sophomore Matayo Uiagalelei led the Big Ten in the regular season with 10.5 sacks, and junior Derrick Harmon led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 total pressures generated.
The 2024 team produced a program record 12 players who were invited to the NFL Combine, setting the stage for what is expected to be another historic NFL Draft for Lanning’s program.
GOOD TO GREAT (2023)
Following a solid 10-win season in 2022 to begin his Oregon career, Lanning tasked his team with going from “good to great” in year two. The Ducks were once again in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation, reaching the final Pac-12 Championship Game and closing the year with a win over Liberty in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to finish 12-2 overall.
The 2023 Ducks were arguably the most complete team in the nation, leading the country in average scoring differential at +27.71 and finishing as one of just three schools in the top 10 nationally for both scoring offense (2nd, 44.2 PPG) and scoring defense (9th, 16.5 PPG). UO also tied for fourth nationally with a plus-11 turnover margin.
Oregon’s potent offense was led by quarterback Bo Nix for the second season in a row, as the fifth-year senior put together one of the greatest seasons ever by a UO quarterback. Nix was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and became the fourth Duck ever to be invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist on the strength of a record-breaking season. Nix set a new NCAA single-season record for completion percentage at 77.45 (364-of-470), and also broke the Oregon single-season records for completions, passing yards (4,508) and passing touchdowns (45).
The dynamic UO offense led the nation in passing offense (346.9 YPG) behind Nix, while also ranking second in total offense (531.4 YPG) and finishing as the only team in the country to score at least 30 points in every game. The Ducks led the nation in fewest sacks allowed with five for the second year in a row, and also led the nation with 26.6 first downs per game.
Nix wasn’t the only Duck to make history in 2023, as receiver Troy Franklin shattered UO single-season records for receiving yards (1,383), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (8). Fellow receiver Tez Johnson also broke the program record for receptions in a season with 86, and center Jackson Powers-Johnson became the fifth unanimous first-team all-American in program history while winning the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center.
Oregon’s electric offense was supported by a vastly improved defensive unit, which took a massive leap forward in Lanning’s second season. The Ducks were one of just six teams in the nation to give up more than 10 points no more than eight times, and finished ninth in the country in scoring defense (16.5 PPG) after ranking 74th in 2022.
The UO defense ranked 11th nationally with just 102.57 rushing yards allowed per game, the fewest by an Oregon team since 1989, following a 2022 season in which it ranked 102nd in ground defense. The Ducks also ranked 22nd nationally in total defense (318.4 YPG), an improvement of 49 spots from 2022.
Lanning’s 2023 team produced a program-record eight NFL Draft selections, led by Nix with the No. 12 overall pick by the Denver Broncos. Powers-Johnson went in the second round to the Las Vegas Raiders, while the quintet of Franklin (Denver), Khyree Jackson (Minnesota), Brandon Dorlus (Atlanta), Evan Williams (Green Bay) and Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay) all went in a span of 23 picks in the fourth round. Jamal Hill (Houston) was taken in the sixth round to complete Oregon’s historic draft.
10-WIN DEBUT (2022)
Lanning had the Ducks in the national conversation throughout his first season as a head coach in 2023, guiding Oregon to 10 wins and a victory in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl.
After a tough loss to his former team and the eventual national champion Georgia Bulldogs to open his Oregon career, Lanning and the Ducks bounced back to win eight consecutive games and were in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. A late-season injury to quarterback Bo Nix loomed large in a pair of tight losses to Washington and Oregon State, but the Ducks finished strong with a comeback win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.
Despite his background in elite defense, the calling card for Lanning’s first Oregon team was an electric offense led by Nix. The Ducks were the only team in the nation to rank in the top 20 in both rushing offense (12th, 215.77 YPG) and passing offense (17th, 284.8 YPG) while tying for ninth in scoring offense (38.8 PPG), and boasted the country’s top offensive line with just five sacks allowed.
Nix was phenomenal in his first season as a Duck, before announcing he would return to Oregon for a fifth season of college football in 2023. The UO quarterback ranked fifth in the nation with 44 total touchdowns while setting a new UO single-season record for completion percentage at 71.9, second-best in the nation. Nix led all FBS quarterbacks with 14 rushing touchdowns, the second-most ever in a season by an Oregon quarterback.
Lanning’s inaugural Oregon defense was led by a trio of NFL Draft picks in cornerback Christian Gonzalez, defensive end DJ Johnson and linebacker Noah Sewell. Gonzalez led Oregon with four interceptions and went on to be the No. 17 overall pick by the New England Patriots. Johnson led the Ducks in sacks and was a third-round pick by the Carolina Panthers, and Sewell capped a productive three-year Oregon career as a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears. The trio made up half of a six-player NFL Draft class in 2023, the most for the Ducks since 2009.
Lanning became the fifth head coach in Oregon history to reach 10 wins in a season, and just the third to do so in his debut season in Eugene.
ELITE DEFENSE
Lanning oversaw the nation’s top overall defense in his three seasons as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, including a historically dominant unit in 2021 as he helped lead the Bulldogs to their third-ever national championship and first since 1980.
In three seasons with Lanning coordinating the defense, Georgia led the country in combined scoring defense (13.6 points per game) and rushing defense (75.7 yards per game), while also ranking No. 2 in total defense (284.3 yards per game).
Lanning’s 2021 Georgia defense led the nation in scoring defense by a wide margin at just 10.2 points per game, 4.6 points per game better than any other team in the country. During 12 regular season contests, Georgia’s opponents mustered just 6.9 points per game.
The Bulldogs’ defense was especially impressive during the 2021 College Football Playoff, with Lanning’s unit fueling the program to the national title. Georgia held Michigan to just 11 points in the CFP semifinal, and then limited an Alabama offense that averaged 41.4 points per game to just 18 points in the national title game.
The 2021 Georgia defense allowed just 16 touchdowns all season under Lanning, five fewer than any other team in the country. The Bulldogs held opponents to 10 points or less nine times in 15 games, and Georgia played 11 full quarters to start the season before surrendering a touchdown. In back-to-back games vs. Vanderbilt and Arkansas, Lanning’s unit pitched consecutive shutouts while winning by a combined score of 99-0.
Georgia’s historic 2021 season also saw the Bulldogs lead the nation in red-zone defense (62.5 score %), while ranking second in total defense (267.9 YPG), rushing defense (78.87 YPG) and yards allowed per play (4.15), and fourth in sacks (49.0). Georgia also had a stout passing defense, ranking 12th overall at 189.1 yards per game.
Lanning also directed the nation’s top scoring defense in 2019 – his first year as defensive coordinator – when the Bulldogs allowed just 12.6 points per game. Georgia led the country in rushing defense (74.6 YPG) and set a school record with an FBS-best two rushing touchdowns allowed, while ranking second nationally in yards allowed per play (4.29) and third in total defense (275.7 YPG).
In a 26-14 win over Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl to cap the 2019 season, Lanning’s defense held the Bears scoreless in the first half and allowed just 61 rushing yards and 295 total yards.
Lanning’s unit led the nation in rushing defense (72.3 YPG) for the second year in a row in 2020 while ranking 12th in total defense (321.0 YPG) and 16th in scoring defense (20.0 PPG). In a 44-21 win over Tennessee, Georgia allowed an incredible minus-1 rushing yards and 214 total yards while recording three forced fumbles and an interception.
The Bulldogs closed out the 2020 season with a thrilling performance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, with Lanning’s defense holding No. 8 Cincinnati scoreless in the fourth quarter as Georgia scored 14 unanswered points to win, 24-21.
In Lanning’s first season at Georgia as the outside linebackers coach in 2018, the Bulldogs ranked 13th nationally in total defense (314.3 YPG) and 14th in scoring defense (19.2 PPG).
Lanning was the inside linebackers coach at Memphis in 2016 and 2017, helping lead a defense that ranked in the top five nationally in turnovers gained both years.
RELENTLESS RECRUITER
Lanning is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country. At the time of his hiring at Oregon, 247Sports listed Lanning as the No. 8 ranked recruiter in the nation.
Oregon’s new head coach immediately went to work on the recruiting trail upon arriving in Eugene, signing a 2022 class that 247Sports regarded as the 13th best in the country and best in the Pac-12 entering the season. Lanning’s initial UO class included five-star offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr., as well as 10 four-star recruits.
Lanning continued his recruiting momentum into 2023, landing a consensus top-10 class that was headlined by five-star receiver Jurrion Dickey and five-star edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei. Lanning also showed a knack for attacking the transfer portal early in his Oregon tenure, landing key contributors like Nix, Gonzalez and running back Bucky Irving for 2022 before signing receiver Tez Johnson, offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius and defensive end Jordan Burch among a flurry of transfer additions for 2023.
Lanning’s momentum on the recruiting trail carried into year three, with the Ducks’ 2024 recruiting class ranking as the best in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the nation according to 247Sports. Five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing headlined the class, followed by a whopping 13 four-star prospects. Lanning also continued to make waves in the transfer portal, landing impact players such as quarterback Dillon Gabriel, receiver Evan Stewart, and defensive backs Jabbar Muhammad, Kam Alexander and Kobe Savage, among others.
Lanning and the Ducks inked the nation’s No. 5 ranked recruiting class for 2025, led by five-star signees Dakorien Moore, Na’eem Offord and Trey McNutt. Oregon was active in the transfer portal once again, landing impact players such as defensive back Dillon Thieneman, running back Makhi Hughes and offensive linemen Isaiah World, Emmanuel Pregnon and Alex Harkey, among others.
At Georgia, Lanning was the lead recruiter for linebacker Nakobe Dean, the eventual 2021 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker and first-team all-American. Dean was 247Sports’ No. 2 ranked inside linebacker in the 2019 class and No. 19 player overall.
Lanning played a huge role in Georgia signing defensive end Nolan Smith, the top-ranked overall player in the 2019 class. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Smith has racked up 81 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and an interception.
According to 247Sports, Lanning has received commitments from five five-star prospects and 14 four-star recruits.
Lanning was the on-campus recruiting coordinator at Arizona State in 2013, helping the Sun Devils land a top-20 signing class. Lanning was also the co-recruiting coordinator during his year at Sam Houston State in 2014.
DEVELOPING STARS
Lanning had proven his ability as a talent developer prior to landing his first head coaching job, mentoring some of the top defensive players in all of college football throughout his career.
In 2021, Lanning coordinated an elite Georgia defense that was led by a pair of first-team all-Americans in defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt joined Davis and Dean on the all-SEC first team, and three more Bulldogs earned second-team honors.
Davis was an absolute force in the middle of the Bulldog defense, winning the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player as well as the Outland Trophy as the top FBS interior lineman. He joined Ndamukong Suh (2009, Nebraska) and Aaron Donald (2013, Pittsburgh) as the only players to win the Bednarik Award and the Outland Trophy in the same season.
Dean took home the 2021 Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country, becoming the second Bulldog to win the honor in its 37-year history. Dean was second on the team with 72 tackles while adding a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
That 2021 defense enjoyed a historic 2022 NFL Draft, with a whopping eight players from Lanning’s unit being selected. That group was led defensive end Travon Walker, who went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Walker was joined by Davis (Philadelphia, No. 13), linebacker Quay Walker (Green Bay, No. 22), Wyatt (Green Bay, No. 28) and safety Lewis Cine (Minnesota, No. 32) in the first round as Georgia became the first defense ever to have five first-round selections in the same draft. Dean and fellow linebacker Channing Tindall both went in the third round to give Lanning’s defense seven picks in the first three rounds.
In 2020, Lanning coached a defense that featured four 2021 NFL Draft selections. Defensive back Eric Stokes was taken by the Green Bay Packers with the 29th overall pick after putting together a first-team all-American season with four interceptions.
Defensive back Tyson Campbell went four picks after Stokes at No. 33 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker Azeez Ojulari was taken at No. 50 by the New York Giants. Ojulari led the SEC in sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (3) while ranking second in tackles for loss (11.5). Linebacker Monty Rice went to the Tennessee Titans in the third round with the 92nd overall pick.
Lanning’s 2019 Georgia defense was led by safety J.R. Reed, who earned all-America honors by four different outlets. Linebacker Tae Crowder was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and was taken by the Giants with the final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
In his first season at Georgia in 2018, Lanning coached outside linebacker D’Andre Walker to a second-team all-SEC selection. Walker led the team in sacks and tackles for loss and was a fifth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 NFL Draft.
As the inside linebackers coach at Memphis (2016-17), Lanning coached a two-time first-team all-AAC selection in linebacker Genard Avery, a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Lanning made his on-field collegiate coaching debut at Sam Houston State in 2014 as the defensive backs coach, mentoring three players who earned all-Southland Conference honors. Trenier Orr also received all-America recognition.
PLAYING CAREER & PERSONAL
Born in North Kansas City, Mo., Lanning spent his playing days as a linebacker at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physical education and secondary education in 2008.
Lanning began his coaching career at Park Hill South High School in Missouri after earning his degree, spending three seasons as the special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers coach. During that time, he completed coursework for his Master’s degree in secondary administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.
Lanning and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons – Caden, Kniles, and Titan.
THE LANNING FILE
COACHING CAREER
| Years | Title | School |
| 2022 – | Head Coach | Oregon |
| 2019-21 | Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers | Georgia |
| 2018 | Outside Linebackers | Georgia |
| 2016-17 | Inside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator | Memphis |
| 2015 | Defensive Graduate Assistant: Outside Linebackers | Alabama |
| 2014 | Defensive Backs/Co-Recruiting Coordinator | Sam Houston State |
| 2013 | On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator | Arizona State |
| 2012 | Defensive Graduate Assistant: Outside Linebackers/Nickelbacks | Arizona State |
| 2011 | Defensive Graduate Assistant | Pittsburgh |
| 2008-10 | Special Teams/Defensive Backs/Wide Receivers | Park Hill South HS (Mo.) |
BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
| Year | Bowl | School (Title) |
| 2025 | Rose Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal) | Oregon (Head Coach) |
| 2024 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl | Oregon (Head Coach) |
| 2022 | SDCCU Holiday Bowl | Oregon (Head Coach) |
| 2021 | CFP National Championship | Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/OLB) |
| 2021 | Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal) | Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/OLB) |
| 2020 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/OLB) |
| 2019 | Allstate Sugar Bowl | Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/OLB) |
| 2018 | Allstate Sugar Bowl | Georgia (Outside Linebackers) |
| 2017 | Autozone Liberty Bowl | Memphis (Inside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator) |
| 2016 | Boca Raton Bowl | Memphis (Inside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator) |
| 2015 | CFP National Championship | Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant/OLB) |
| 2015 | Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinal) | Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant/OLB) |
| 2013 | Holiday Bowl | Arizona State (On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator) |
| 2012 | Fight Hunger Bowl | Arizona State (Defensive Graduate Assistant/OLB/NB) |
| 2011 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Pittsburgh (Defensive Graduate Assistant) |
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
| Year | Conference | School (Title) |
| 2024 | Big Ten | Oregon (Head Coach) |
| 2015 | SEC | Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant) |
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
| Year | Player | All-America Teams | School |
| 2024 | OL Josh Conerly Jr. | 3rd-AP | Oregon |
| 2024 | OL Ajani Cornelius | 2nd-AFCA | Oregon |
| 2024 | QB Dillon Gabriel | 1st-FWAA; 2nd-AFCA, SN, WC; 3rd-AP | Oregon |
| 2024 | DL Derrick Harmon | 2nd-AP, FWAA, SN | Oregon |
| 2023 | OL Jackson Powers-Johnson | 1st-AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WC | Oregon |
| 2023 | WR Troy Franklin | 2nd-AP, FWAA, SN | Oregon |
| 2023 | QB Bo Nix | 3rd-AP | Oregon |
| 2021 | DL Jalen Carter | 2nd-AFCA | Georgia |
| 2021 | DB Lewis Cine | 1st-SN; 3rd-AP | Georgia |
| 2021 | DL Jordan Davis | 1st-AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WC | Georgia |
| 2021 | LB Nakobe Dean | 1st-AFCA, AP, FWAA, SN, WC | Georgia |
| 2021 | LB Quay Walker | 2nd-AFCA | Georgia |
| 2021 | DL Devonte Wyatt | 2nd-AP | Georgia |
| 2020 | DL Jordan Davis | 2nd-AFCA | Georgia |
| 2019 | DB J.R. Reed | 1st-AP, FWAA, WC; 2nd-AFCA | Georgia |
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
| Year | Round (Pick) | Player | Team | School |
| 2024 | 1 (12) | QB Bo Nix | Denver Broncos | Oregon |
| 2024 | 2 (44) | OL Jackson Powers-Johnson | Las Vegas Raiders | Oregon |
| 2024 | 4 (102) | WR Troy Franklin | Denver Broncos | Oregon |
| 2024 | 4 (108) | DB Khyree Jackson | Minnesota Vikings | Oregon |
| 2024 | 4 (109) | DE Brandon Dorlus | Atlanta Falcons | Oregon |
| 2024 | 4 (111) | DB Evan Williams | Green Bay Packers | Oregon |
| 2024 | 4 (125) | RB Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Bucanneers | Oregon |
| 2024 | 6 (188) | ILB Jamal Hill | Houston Texans | Oregon |
| 2023 | 1 (17) | DB Christian Gonzalez | New England Patriots | Oregon |
| 2023 | 3 (80) | OLB DJ Johnson | Carolina Panthers | Oregon |
| 2023 | 5 (148) | ILB Noah Sewell | Chicago Bears | Oregon |
| 2023 | 6 (199) | OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu | Baltimore Ravens | Oregon |
| 2023 | 7 (243) | DL Jordon Riley | New York Giants | Oregon |
| 2023 | 7 (257) | OL Alex Forsyth | Denver Broncos | Oregon |
| 2022 | 1 (1) | DL Travon Walker | Jacksonville Jaguars | Georgia |
| 2022 | 1 (13) | DL Jordan Davis | Philadelphia Eagles | Georgia |
| 2022 | 1 (22) | LB Quay Walker | Green Bay Packers | Georgia |
| 2022 | 1 (28) | DL Devonte Wyatt | Green Bay Packers | Georgia |
| 2022 | 1 (32) | DB Lewis Cine | Minnesota Vikings | Georgia |
| 2022 | 3 (83) | LB Nakobe Dean | Philadelphia Eagles | Georgia |
| 2022 | 3 (102) | LB Channing Tindall | Miami Dolphins | Georgia |
| 2022 | 6 (212) | DB Derion Kendrick | Los Angeles Rams | Georgia |
| 2021 | 1 (29) | DB Eric Stokes | Green Bay Packers | Georgia |
| 2021 | 2 (33) | DB Tyson Campbell | Jacksonville Jaguars | Georgia |
| 2021 | 2 (50) | LB Azeez Ojulari | New York Giants | Georgia |
| 2021 | 3 (92) | LB Monty Rice | Tennessee Titans | Georgia |
| 2021 | 5 (169) | DB Richard LeCounte | Cleveland Browns | Georgia |
| 2021 | 7 (241) | DB Mark Webb | Los Angeles Chargers | Georgia |
| 2020 | 7 (255) | LB Tae Crowder | New York Giants | Georgia |
| 2019 | 5 (168) | OLB D’Andre Walker | Tennessee Titans | Georgia |
| 2018 | 5 (150) | ILB Genard Avery | Cleveland Browns | Memphis |
Iapani Laloulu: "Be better every single day."
Wednesday, September 10
Dan Lanning: "Business trip."
Wednesday, September 10
Dillon Thieneman: "Keep grinding day in and day out."
Tuesday, September 09
Ify Obidegwu: "Going the extra mile."
Tuesday, September 09
