The 2024 season has been a remarkable one for the Oregon Ducks, marking one of the most successful years in the program’s history. For the first time ever, Oregon has finished with a perfect 13-0 record and secured a Big Ten Conference championship in their inaugural season in the conference. With such impressive achievements in his third year as head coach, it’s no surprise that Dan Lanning is set to receive a significant financial reward.
Lanning, whose base salary for the 2024 season is $7 million, is expected to earn an additional $850,000 due to the team’s success, particularly reaching the Rose Bowl quarterfinals in the College Football Playoff. This bonus includes $150,000 for winning the Big Ten title and $200,000 for reaching the Rose Bowl. Had the Ducks advanced to the first round of the playoffs, Lanning would have earned an extra $150,000. The remainder of the bonus is tied to Oregon’s undefeated regular season, which was only the second time in the program’s history that the Ducks have achieved a 12-0 record, with the first occurring in 2014.
If Oregon manages to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, Lanning’s bonus will increase by $250,000. Additionally, if the Ducks make it to the National Championship game, he will earn another $500,000.
In addition to these incentives, Lanning also received a one-year contract extension in November after Oregon’s 39-18 victory over the Maryland Terrapins, which extended his tenure through January 2031. Despite his rising pay and success, there have been questions about whether Lanning might consider leaving for an NFL job. On The Zach Gelb Show before the Rose Bowl, Lanning assured fans that he was committed to Oregon, stating that while coaching in the NFL had once been a goal, he is fully invested in the Ducks’ future. He emphasized that his family loves Eugene, and there is still much work to be done at Oregon. He expressed confidence in staying at Oregon as long as he continues to perform well.
Lanning’s legacy at Oregon is already cemented. In his first two seasons, he led the Ducks to a 10-3 record in 2022 and followed it with a 12-2 record in 2023. He is only the third head coach in Oregon history to win at least 22 games in his first two years and is tied with Chip Kelly for the most wins (31) by an Oregon head coach through their first 36 games.
As of 2024, Lanning ranks as the fifth-highest paid coach in the Big Ten, tied with Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, and the 18th-highest paid coach in the FBS. Other high-earning Big Ten coaches include Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and USC’s Lincoln Riley. The Ducks will face Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day with the game scheduled for a 2 p.m. PT kickoff.
