Could Dan Lanning draw NFL head coach interest?

Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Lanning is having huge amounts of success with the Oregon Ducks, and there is some speculation that he could parlay it into NFL opportunities if he wanted to.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote in his weekly column that Lanning had been mentioned as a name that could potentially intrigue NFL executives during future offseasons. One executive told Fowler that Lanning has “got some Dan Campbell to him,” though it is not clear if Lanning would get serious looks or be interested in them.

Dipping into the college ranks for a head coach remains a risky proposition. Lanning has never played or coached in the NFL, and there are many examples of highly successful college coaches flopping at the professional level. Still, Lanning is 32-5 at Oregon, and he can certainly win over a room.

It is unclear how many coaching vacancies there will be this offseason, though the New Orleans Saints already have one. At least a few more are likely to follow.