Dan Lanning Breaks Silence on Oregon Firing He Felt Was ‘Necessary’

The Oregon Ducks have been left without an offensive coordinator following the firing of Drew Mehringer on October 25. The Ducks, ranked second by the US LBM Coaches Poll at the start of the year, now find themselves unranked and struggling to secure a College Football Playoff berth. Oregon had previously defeated Illinois in a 21-10 game, leaving the Ducks with a 4-3 record and a 2-2 mark against Big Ten opponents.

In a statement released by the school, head coach Chip Lanning expressed his appreciation for Mehringer's contributions to the program since 2022. Lanning acknowledged Mehringer's role in the Ducks' success over the past few seasons, stating that he felt a new direction was necessary to advance the offensive strategy. Lanning thanked Mehringer for his efforts and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Mehringer joined the Oregon staff in 2022 as tight ends coach, later assuming the co-offensive coordinator title. He took full control of the offense in 2026 when Will Stein left to become Kentucky's head coach. The absence of star quarterback Dante Moore, who has been sidelined due to a concussion since Week 4, has been a significant concern for the Ducks' offense. Quarterbacks Brock Thomas and Dorser have had to step up, with limited success thus far.

The Ducks' offensive struggles were evident in their loss to Illinois, where they were held scoreless in the final two quarters. Other key contributors, such as top receivers Jeremiah McClellan, Messiah Hampton, and Evan Stewart, also missed the game. With three losses already, the Ducks face significant challenges in their remaining schedule, including matchups against ranked opponents such as Northwestern and Ohio State.