Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning made history when he was named the 2025 Stallings Award winner. The award recognizes his exceptional leadership and accomplishments in college football.
His work with the Ducks earned him a place in the spotlight, and the honor is just another testament to the program’s success under his watch.
Dan Lanning Takes Home the 2025 Stallings Award
On Wednesday, Lanning received the 2025 Stallings Award, which is given annually to college football coaches who demonstrate outstanding leadership and success. Named after Gene Stallings, a legendary coach at Alabama, the award pays tribute to both success on the field and compassion toward players and staff.
The University of Oregon Alumni Twitter page announced Lanning’s achievement with the following post:
“Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has won the 2025 Stallings Award for his leadership and impact on college football!”
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has won the 2025 Stallings Award for his leadership and impact on college football! 🏅 He’s the first Oregon coach to earn this honor after leading the Ducks to a Big Ten title 🏆and a historic 13-0 season. 🏈
Read more: https://t.co/VVc1G1lEEN 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/QgxeMNMyC4— UO Alumni (@UOAlumni) February 17, 2025
Lanning’s award came after an impressive season where the Ducks not only won the Big Ten title in their first year in the conference but also secured a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
With a 13-0 start to the season, a first in Oregon history, the Ducks seemed poised for a national championship run.
While they ultimately lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, Lanning’s leadership was undeniable.
Over his three seasons at Oregon, Lanning guided the Ducks to 10 or more wins in every season, including Fiesta Bowl and Holiday Bowl victories. The Stallings Award marks yet another high point for Lanning’s tenure at Oregon.
In a move that signified his growing legacy, Lanning became the only Oregon head coach to win the Stallings Award, setting a precedent for the program moving forward. The prestigious award ceremony will take place in Dallas later this spring, offering a chance for Lanning to be recognized on a national stage for his remarkable achievements.
A New Era for Oregon Football Under Lanning
Lanning’s focus is now on what comes next. After leading Oregon to a historic 12-0 regular season and the Big Ten title, Lanning set his sights on the next challenge: a national championship.
With the level of competition in the Big Ten increasing, Lanning knew that keeping the Ducks competitive would require more than just the talent already on the roster.
This offseason, Oregon made waves in the transfer portal, acquiring key players to help maintain its championship potential. But the most significant move was not bringing in a player. It was hiring Ross Douglas as the team’s new wide receivers coach. Douglas replaced Junior Adams, who took an NFL coaching opportunity.
Coming from Syracuse, where he helped the passing offense lead the nation in 2024, Douglas brought a wealth of experience to Oregon. He had also worked on the New England Patriots staff, gaining insight into both the college and professional levels of football.
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For Lanning, hiring Douglas wasn’t just about maintaining offensive success. It was about improving it.
Oregon already had a strong roster, but Douglas’ ability to develop wide receivers and unlock their full potential could provide the Ducks with the edge they needed to compete for a national title.
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