Eagles Tackle Lane Johnson Retires After 14 Seasons
Lane Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 36-year-old spent his entire career at right tackle in Philadelphia. He shared the news in a statement on social media, according to The Guardian.
Johnson said he had hoped to play one final season. Instead, he is stepping away now to focus on his mental health. He also cited changing personal and family priorities and a desire to spend more time at home.
Philadelphia drafted Johnson with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. He never wore another uniform. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, the former Oklahoma blocker started 171 regular-season games on the right edge of the offensive line, where his job was to protect the quarterback and open lanes for the run.
The honors stacked up. Johnson was twice voted first-team All-Pro, which means voters judged him the best at his position that season. He also earned six Pro Bowl selections, the league's annual all-star honor for top performers.
Team success followed. Johnson helped Philadelphia reach three Super Bowls and win two of them. Those trips spanned his 14 years with the club and put him at the center of its championship era.
The announcement came just four weeks into the season and two days after Johnson was a surprise inactive for Philadelphia's loss to the Los Angeles Rams because of a personal matter. Head coach Nick Sirianni declined to expand on the absence after that Week 4 game, according to NFL.com. Johnson had also missed four practices during training camp for personal reasons and acknowledged before the season that it would probably be his last.
Johnson had re-signed with Philadelphia on a one-year deal for 2026. The short deal fit a goal he had voiced for years, to finish his career as an Eagle.
For fans, this means more than a lineup change. The Eagles now have to replace steady protection on the right side, a spot Johnson locked down for more than a decade. It also closes a rare kind of career, one draft pick, one team, from start to finish.
