Dan Lanning declares his intention to remain at Oregon

Dan Lanning has stated that he will not be leaving Oregon.

Following Nick Saban’s surprise retirement, the Ducks’ head football coach was extensively linked to the Alabama opening.

“If you’re worried about your coach leaving, come play for us.” “The Ducks aren’t going anywhere, and I’m not leaving,” Lanning said in a video released on Thursday to his social media platforms.

Lanning, who served as a GA for Saban in 2015 and for Kirby Smart at Georgia, was an obvious choice. Lanning’s name has risen to the top of most bookies that were taking bets on the new hire. Other candidates who have not publicly ruled themselves out include Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.

Lanning and Bo Nix won the Fiesta Bowl in Lanning’s second year at Oregon. On Wednesday night, Lanning was said to be in Tuscaloosa. Multiple publications have now contradicted this, with Matt Zenitz of On3 claiming that Lanning was at home with his family, watching a Jason Bourne movie.

The Oregon team’s Twitter account had some fun with the announcement, displaying a photo of Lanning in Eugene, Oregon, a throwback to the flight trackers that fans worry about when coaching searches begin.

Instead, the focus will be on who athletic director Greg Byrne will consider replacing Saban with. Saban was at the team’s facility this morning, telling ESPN that he was there to assist with the “transition.”

UA athletic director Greg Byrne issued a statement stating that his next public comments will be made once a replacement is chosen.

“There will be plenty of rumors out there during this process,” he added. “… If you don’t hear it from me, don’t believe it.”