Eagles' Lane Johnson Hints at Retirement Following 2026 Season
WHO:
NY Post - Lane Johnson is a two-time Super Bowl champion and has been a primary right tackle for the Eagles since 2013.
NY Post - Lane Johnson is 36 years old and is entering his 14th NFL season since being selected by the Eagles with the fourth pick of the 2013 NFL Draft.
The New York Times - Lane Johnson mentioned his oldest child, David, is soon turning 13.
NY Post - Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles’ All-Pro right tackle
The New York Times - Jason Kelce, former teammate; Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles owner
WHAT:
The New York Times - Johnson stated, “I thought about it last year, really. Lots of conversations with my family, my kids. My oldest is turning 13 here in a few days.”
The New York Times - Johnson stated, “As you get older, things change in your life: Priorities. Your children get older, parents get older,” regarding his thoughts on retirement.
The New York Times - Johnson expressed that he wants to be remembered as “a great player but somebody that was always nice to kids, always nice to people in the [Eagles’] building.”
Fox News - Johnson's 2025 campaign ended after 10 games due to a foot injury.
Fox News - Johnson ranked ninth among offensive tackles in pass blocking grade (80.4), 18th in overall grade (77.4), and 33rd in run blocking grade (69.8) according to Pro Football Focus.
Fox News - Johnson is under contract through 2027.
Fox News - Johnson enters this season ninth in franchise history with 168 games played; should he play each of Philadelphia's 17 regular-season games this year, he would move into fifth place.
The New York Times - Johnson stated, “I still feel like I can be a premier tackle in this league.”
NY Post - Lane Johnson revealed he is “probably” retiring after the 2026 NFL season.
The New York Times - Johnson is entering his 14th NFL season.
The New York Times - Johnson has been named a first-team All-Pro twice, a second-team All-Pro three times, and a Pro Bowler six times.
The New York Times - The Eagles spent a third-round pick on Markel Bell to potentially become Johnson’s successor.
WHERE:
The New York Times - Eagles’ facility, Philadelphia
WHEN:
The New York Times - Johnson stated that the 2026 NFL season will “probably” be his last.
WHY:
The New York Times - Johnson mentioned that he wants to be “transparent” about his impending exit because it “allows [him] to kind of be at ease.”
The New York Times - Johnson mentioned that he had conversations with family members about retirement, stating, “It’s hard to get time back. Especially, those years, are very pivotal.”
The New York Times - Johnson cited his parents' health as a reason for considering retirement.
The New York Times - Johnson cited family priorities, mentioning his mother’s health issues and his oldest child turning 13 as reasons for considering retirement.
The New York Times - Johnson indicated that as he gets older, his priorities have changed, leading him to think about retirement.
HOW:
Bleeding Green Nation - Johnson said he plans to focus on “playing the best I can, staying healthy, and that’s about it.”
The New York Times - Johnson described his recent absence from practice as being due to personal business, stating, “The plan was always to come back.”
The New York Times - Johnson expressed gratitude for the support from the Eagles organization during his absence, stating, “All the support, all the love here.”
The New York Times - Johnson reached his decision about retirement after spending four practices away from the Eagles’ facility with an excused absence.
The New York Times - Johnson expressed that he still feels capable of being a premier tackle in the league and plans to have a good last year.
Lane Johnson, a two-time Super Bowl champion and the Eagles' primary right tackle since 2013, has announced his intention to retire soon. He shared that he has been reflecting on this decision, particularly as his oldest child is about to turn 13, and he wants to be transparent about his exit to find peace. Johnson emphasized that his focus will be on playing at his best and staying healthy as he approaches this new chapter in his life.