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Dan Orlovsky Calls Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning 'Second-Best' Coach, Behind Kirby Smart

NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky shared his thoughts on Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning's current standing in college football, ranking him behind Georgia Bulldogs' Kirby Smart for the best coach in the country.

Kyron Samuels

Oregon coach Dan Lanning watches his team's game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning watches his team's game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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ESPN’s senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler dropped a bombshell that linked Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning to a potential NFL future on Wednesday. According to the report, multiple sources within league circles likened Lanning to Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell. Lanning's Oregon Ducks are 10-0 and the No. 1 ranked team in college football, and the focus has been on Oregon's national championship aspirations and quarterback Dillon Gabriel's Heisman campaign.

Lanning’s meteoric rise through the coaching ranks isn’t without merit. He’s learned from some of the best of all time, including former Alabama coach Nick Saban and current Georgia coach Kirby Smart. As of now, Lanning’s name is being thought of in the same way as Kirby Smart. 

Notable NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky made an appearance on the show Next Round Live and shared his thoughts about Lanning's current standing in college football. He also detailed an encounter from the past that led him to believe Lanning was going to be the next coaching superstar.

Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lannin
Nov 9, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning high-fives fans before a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

“It’s very clear that we have two elite coaches in college football. Kirby Smart being one, and Dan Lanning probably being the second. . . . It’s very clear that Dan Lanning, at worst, is the second best college football coach in the country right now,” said former NFL quarterback and now ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky. 

“I’m always cautious of college coaches going (to the NFL) especially college coaches that may not have an NFL background,” Orlovsky continued. 

That general sentiment is true across league circles, but there’s always an exception for special leaders. Orlovsky went on to detail an exchange he had with Lanning when he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia while he was preparing for a play-by-play gig. Orlovsky left the meeting impressed.

“That dude is going to be a head coach in two years and he’s going to be really good,” Orlovsky predicted. 

That prediction came true, and not even three years into his coaching career, Lanning has a 32-5 overall record and is 2-0 in bowl games, including a dominant Fiesta Bowl victory last season. The Ducks are firmly in the Big Ten and national championship hunt, so while the thought is nice and maybe even soon to be realized, Lanning’s number-one objective is leading Oregon to its ultimate goal. 

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

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