Oregon might need to replace Dan Lanning after the 2024 season

Lanning is in the middle of his third season with the Ducks, having compiled a 32-5 record and leading the program to two bowl wins.

Oregon would hate to lose him after this season, especially if he leads the school to a national championship, but it might be difficult for him to pass up an opportunity to become a head coach in the NFL.

In addition to divulging that Lanning could potentially end up in the pros next year, Fowler also shared that an NFL executive recently told him that the Ducks head coach has "got some Dan Campbell to him."

Campbell, a former Texas A&M tight end, is the head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions, who are currently 8-1 this season and believed by many to be the best team in the league.

Despite the reported interest in Lanning, college coaches making the jump to the NFL have been hit-or-miss recently.

Jim Harbaugh is the most recent example after he left Michigan earlier this year to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. So far, Harbaugh has helped lead the Chargers to a 6-3 record in their first nine games this season.

Before Harbaugh, a number of coaches have attempted to make the switch from college to the NFL during the last few decades, including Matt Rhule, Urban Meyer, Kliff Kingsbury, Doug Marrone, Bill O'Brien, Chip Kelly, Greg Schiano, Bobby Petrino, Nick Saban, Butch Davis and Steve Spurrier.

Pretty much all of them failed, but that clearly hasn't prevented NFL teams from having interest in potentially hiring someone like Lanning or another top head coach in college football.

If the Ducks head coach is offered a chance to become a head coach in the pros next year, he shouldn't jump at the first opportunity.

Lanning is currently in a great situation at Oregon and there's no reason to think that the program won't continue to be successful during the next few seasons with him leading the way. However, sometimes the chance to become an NFL head coach is just too hard to pass up, and that may be something Lanning has to weigh whenever the Ducks' 2024 season comes to an end.