Lane Johnson is retiring after playing just three games for the Philadelphia Eagles in his 14th NFL season, the two-time First Team All-Pro offensive tackle announced on Tuesday. Johnson considered retirement this past offseason, but ultimately elected to return for the beginning of the Eagles' 2026 campaign. The six-time Pro Bowler was a surprise inactive for Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, appearing on the injury report with a "personal" designation.
"I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year; to take the field with my brothers for one last season. But after a lot of reflection, I've realized that my personal and family priorities have changed. Right now it is critical that I focus on my mental health," Johnson wrote in his announcement on social media.
"I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organization and the fans to have my head and heart 100 percent in the game. And right now my heart is telling me that it's time to say goodbye to football." Almost the entirety of Johnson's NFL career with the Eagles was played under offensive line coach/running game coordinator Jeff Stoutland, who joined the team the same year Philadelphia selected Johnson with the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2013. "It is extremely rare to come across a player like @LaneJohnson65.
Extremely rare In the spring of 2013, I found myself on a field in East Texas working out a young Lane Johnson. I believe he was 22 years old," Stoutland wrote on social media in reaction to the news. "All these years later, to say I am proud of the career you built and the man you became would be an understatement.
It’s been a privilege and honor to have coached you. I am so proud of you, Lane." Johnson ends his all-time great career as a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
