Three Things to Know About Oregon Ducks’ New Play Caller Jay Johnson

It was announced on Oct. 25 that coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks relieved former first-year offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer of his duties. This is the first staff member that Lanning has had to fire midseason since taking over the reins of the Pacific Northwest program back in 2022.

The Oregon offense struggled to establish an identity under first-year offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and did not get the most out of its five-star talent. Mehringer’s offense averaged just 14.0 points over its final three games under his direction, including losses to UCLA at home and Illinois on the road.

Oregon offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer walks the field before the game as the Oregon Ducks host the Portland State Vikings on Sept. 18, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Lanning announced at the Oct. 26 media availability session that first-year assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson with the Ducks is now the interim play-caller for the rest of the 2026 season.

“He’s coming in with a different perspective, a different view, not being with us the last few years, where he can provide a couple of things that might be different than what we’ve done," Lanning stated.

Here are three facts to know about Oregon's newest play-caller.

Jan. 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Dan Lanning against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

Coached Alongside Dan Lanning at Georgia

Along with then-outside linebackers coach Lanning, Johnson was on the Georgia Bulldogs coaching staff during the 2018 campaign.

He was the offensive quality control coach in Athens, Georgia, for two seasons from 2017-18. The Austin, Minnesota, native coached in the 2017 national championship game, resulting in a 26-23 overtime victory for the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Colorado offensive coordinator Jay Johnson during football practice and fall sports media day on Aug. 3, 2019 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Has Been an Offensive Coordinator for Seven Different Programs

Johnson is a veteran offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with multiple stops across the country in that role at the Division I level since 1997.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (2005-07)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (2011-15)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (2016)
Colorado Buffaloes (2019)
Michigan State Spartans (2020-23)
Wyoming Cowboys (2024-25)
Oregon Ducks (2026) - play caller

He's been a journeyman throughout his coaching career, joining 11 different Division I college football programs during that span.

Johnson’s work at Michigan State earned him national recognition in 2021, when he was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, given annually to college football’s top assistant coach. That season, the Spartans finished 11-2 and won the Peach Bowl.

His offense featured running back Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns and won the Doak Walker Award. Quarterback Payton Thorne also set a Michigan State single-season record with 27 touchdown passes. The Spartans finished 11-2 and beat Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl.

Relieved of His Duties Halfway Through 2025 Season

The 57-year-old was fired as the offensive coordinator at Wyoming in the middle of the 2025 season by coach Jay Sawvel. His offense with the Cowboys only averaged 20.0 points through the first seven games last year.

An additional fun fact about Johnson is that during his playing days with the Northern Iowa Panthers as a quarterback, future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner served as his backup for three seasons, 1990 to 1992.

Warner went on to win two NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl.

How Johnson does without senior quarterback Dante Moore going forward will be interesting to watch. Lanning announced to the media that Moore is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season. He suffered a concussion after a hit by junior linebacker Desman Stephens II at the USC Trojans on Sept. 26.

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