Who will call plays for Oregon after Mehringer's firing?
Offensive assistant Jay Johnson will take over play-calling duties after Oregon fired coordinator Drew Mehringer following a three-game stretch where the Ducks averaged just 14 points.
After firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer mid-season in 2026, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced plans for his replacement at a press conference on Monday night. Offensive assistant Jay Johnson will take over playcalling duties for the Ducks. Lanning praised Johnson's experience, noting he was a play-caller under Lanning at Georgia, leading them to the national championship, and later had success at Colorado and Michigan State.
Johnson will lead the offensive staff, but Lanning emphasized it would still be a collaborative effort. Johnson brings a fresh perspective, having been away from Oregon for a few seasons. Mehringer, formerly the tight ends coach for the Ducks, is the first assistant Lanning has dismissed since taking the job in 2022. The Ducks' offensive struggles, averaging only 14 points per game and losing to UCLA, Illinois, and UCLA, were a major focal point of criticism over the past three weeks.
Lanning acknowledged the emotional aspect of letting Mehringer go, calling him an "unbelievable dad" and a "great husband." He also admitted the team should share some responsibility for the season's lack of success.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
