Dan Lanning Addresses Quarterback Dante Moore's Mental Health Advocacy

The Oregon Ducks football team has resumed spring practices and fans are flocking to find out the latest on the team. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore made major waves through the NFL and college football when he decided to return to Eugene for another season instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft where he was a projected top-5 pick.

Moore's impact this offseason hasn't stopped there.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, embraces Oregon quarterback Dante Moore after the Ducks’ win as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon coach Dan Lanning opened up about Moore’s mental wellness advocacy, including his letter to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and how the Ducks support emotional well being inside the locker room.

Lanning's comments make it clear that Oregon is a player-first program, with a locker room where players feel safe speaking up. Not only is that environment helping young men grow and develop into resilient humans ... It also is something that recruits and transfer portal players take note of.

Dan Lanning Addresses Quarterback Dante Moore's Mental Health Advocacy

Lanning was completely aligned with Moore's decision to use his voice for something that has impacted him greatly: mental health.

“We have conversations all the time, not necessarily just about that. We talk about a lot of stuff. Dante's his own man. We're proud that he has a willingness to speak up with a platform that he has," Lanning said.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore with reporter Bri Amaranthus

In March, the 20-year-old Moore opened up about his own struggles with depression and why access to care needs to change in a letter to Kotek. He followed that up with an emotional video on his Instagram that showed wisdom beyond his years as he tackles massive topics like suicide, health care and mental health.

Moore is stepping into a bigger leadership role for the Ducks in 2026 and his voice caries weight. Moore using his platform to speak on something meaningful is notable. That presence can resonate with teammates, fans and fellow athletes, potentially encouraging more voices to speak up around mental health.

Being comfortable speaking publicly and internally is a sign of maturity and command... something that could certainly translate onto the football field.

Lanning continued to discuss how the Ducks support emotional well being inside their locker room.

Oregon Ducks Dante Moore Dan Lanning mental health letter video instagram advocate depression cancer nfl draft governor — Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore after the win over Montana State | Jake Bunn / Oregon Ducks on SI

“I think all of our guys feel really comfortable as a family here. So, you're able to express yourself and communicate, and it's important for us. We're going to keep at the forefront of where we're at. But we're here to play football. Football is tough. Life's hard. Our guys recognize all those pieces, but if you don't recognize it in your program, then you're probably missing something. I like to think that we hit that last year a lot," Lanning said.

Lanning's Oregon program isn't just developing players physically: the Ducks are developing people. The trust and accountability sets Oregon apart in the modern football era. It also could be a major reason for Lanning's strong retention rate. He has yet to lose a full-time starter to the transfer portal since taking over in Eugene.

Moore's message is made even stronger with sharing his own battle with depression. Moore opened up about his sense of overwhelmed under the pressure of playing quarterback while navigating his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis at just 18 years old. He started his college career at UCLA before transferring to Oregon in December of 2023. Fortunately, Moore's mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, was declared cancer-free in July 2024.

Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning and wife Sauphia beamed with pride and gratitude as he received the prestigious Stallings Award for humanitarianism at the Dallas Country Club on Tuesday evening. | Bri Amaranthus

Lanning has his own experience with cancer after his wife, Sauphia was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer. Sauphia battled through treatment and is now nine years cancer free after receiving her last treatment in 2017.

Lanning has opened up about Sauphia's remarkable cancer batter a few times, including a feature on ESPN's College GameDay. Also, the Lannings and their three sons helped designed an Oregon uniform to raise awareness and resources for research into beating the disease. The “Heroes” uniform represents a defining moment in Oregon Ducks history, highlighting how the program stands for something far greater than just football.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.