Eagles’ 6-Time Pro Bowl OT Lane Johnson Retires From NFL 4 Games Into Season

Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement Tuesday, ending a 14-season career spent entirely with the team. In a letter posted on X, Johnson, 36, said his family priorities had changed and that “it is critical that I focus on my mental health.” “I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year; to take the field with my brothers for one last season,” Johnson wrote. “But after a lot of reflection, I’ve realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed. Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health. 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.” The announcement came two days after Johnson was a surprise inactive for personal reasons in Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He had said in August that 2026 would likely be his final season, but he started in each of the Eagles’ first three games. He allowed just two pressures and zero sacks in those games, per Pro Football Focus. Johnson, who was taken with the fourth overall pick out of Oklahoma in the 2013 NFL Draft, was one of the top offensive tackles of his generation. He helped the Eagles win two Super Bowls (LII, LIX), earning six Pro Bowl nods and five AP All-Pro selections. “Philadelphia will always be home,” he wrote, “and I will forever be an Eagle.” Johnson missed seven games last season due to a foot sprain, but didn’t allow a sack and surrendered just seven pressures, according to PFF. A year prior, Johnson gave up just one sack over 19 games in Philadelphia’s run to a Super Bowl title. As Philadelphia faces the tall task of replacing Johnson, the 2-2 Eagles are dealing with a handful of injuries and concerns over their on-field performance. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for less than 100 yards in the loss to the Rams, as wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed the game due to a hamstring injury. Running back Saquon Barkley departed the game with a hamstring injury as well, and is reportedly week-to-week. This is a developing story and will be updated.