Oregon fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer seven games into the 2026 season, replacing him with offensive assistant Jay Johnson as play-caller, head coach Dan Lanning announced at a press conference Monday night.
Mehringer, who was promoted to offensive coordinator this year after serving as the Ducks’ tight ends coach, became the first assistant coach Lanning has dismissed since taking charge in 2022. The decision came amid growing criticism of Oregon’s offense, which averaged just 14 points per game over the last three weeks, including losses to UCLA and Illinois.
Lanning said Johnson will oversee offensive playcalling going forward, while the broader offensive staff will continue to collaborate. Johnson has experience calling plays, having worked with Lanning on Georgia’s national championship team before holding coordinator roles at Colorado and Michigan State.
“He has a lot of experience as a play-caller, was with me in Georgia when we were part of the national championship team,” Lanning said. “Went on to have a lot of success in Colorado and Michigan State. He’s gonna lead the efforts there with the offensive staff, but it’ll still be a collaborative effort, with a lot of the work that we do.”
Lanning also suggested Johnson brings fresh ideas to the Ducks’ offense. “He’s also coming in with a different perspective, a different view, not being with us the last few years, where he can provide a couple things that might be different than what we’ve done.”
Mehringer’s firing reflects the mounting frustration over Oregon’s offensive struggles this season. Despite a strong roster and high expectations, the Ducks have failed to maintain consistent scoring, a concern that intensified in recent weeks.
Lanning addressed the personal side of the move, acknowledging Mehringer’s contributions and character. “They see the football coach, right? That’s also an unbelievable dad. A great husband,” he said. “The guy’s been part of our staff for the last five years, that’s done some really good things here, and I think all of us feel like we shoulder some of the blame. Because we didn’t create success for our team this season.”
The change aims to arrest Oregon’s offensive slide as they seek to regain form in the second half of the season. Johnson’s previous stints as offensive coordinator showed steady results, and his reunion with Lanning is expected to bring some stability to the Ducks’ attack.
At the time of the announcement, Oregon was navigating a challenging stretch of the 2026 campaign that has raised questions about their College Football Playoff hopes. Lanning has also spoken publicly about expanding the playoff format to 24 teams, a position that aligns with the Ducks’ ambitions.
The Ducks’ next game will offer the first test of Johnson’s leadership over the offense, with fans and analysts eager to see if the change sparks improved production on that side of the ball.
According to Yahoo Sports.