After 13 seasons in the NFL trenches, Lane Johnson is standing at a familiar crossroads - but this time, the weight of that decision feels a little heavier.
The Eagles’ All-Pro right tackle has long been one of the league’s most dominant linemen, a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s offense and a locker room leader. But after missing the second half of the 2025 season - and the playoffs - with a Lisfranc injury, Johnson is once again faced with the question that looms larger each year: Is it time to hang it up?
Johnson said not long ago that he still felt like he was in his prime. And when he's healthy, there’s little doubt he still plays like it. But injuries have been a recurring theme in his career, and this latest one - one that lingered longer than expected and kept him off the field when the Eagles needed him most - could shift the balance in that retirement conversation.
And then there’s the other big change: Jeff Stoutland is stepping down as the Eagles’ offensive line coach. That’s not just a coaching change - that’s a seismic shift for Johnson.
Stoutland has been the only OL coach Johnson’s ever had in the NFL. Their relationship goes far beyond X’s and O’s.
Losing Stoutland isn’t just about adjusting to a new voice in the meeting room - it’s about losing a mentor, a trusted guide, and a constant in a league that rarely offers any.
For years, the Eagles were defined by a core group of players and coaches who weathered the storms of turnover - head coaching changes, roster shakeups, trade buzz. They were the backbone of the franchise, the ones who brought Philly its first Super Bowl title.
Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham - even when some left, they often found their way back. But now, that foundation is cracking.
With Stoutland gone, Johnson could be the last of that group still standing. And standing alone is a different kind of challenge.
Part of Stoutland’s departure reportedly stems from philosophical differences with the new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, who’s expected to introduce a fresh set of concepts and a different offensive identity. For a veteran like Johnson, learning a new scheme - especially one that may not align with the techniques he’s perfected over more than a decade - isn’t just a physical ask.
It’s a mental grind. And doing it without the coach who’s been by your side every step of the way?
That’s a tall order.
There’s no questioning what Lane Johnson has meant to this franchise. He’s been a warrior on the field and a voice in the locker room.
He’s played through pain, anchored one of the league’s best offensive lines, and given everything to the City of Philadelphia. If he decides this is the end, he’s earned that right a hundred times over.
Still, the Eagles know how critical he is to their offense. The right tackle position isn’t just another spot on the line - it’s a pillar.
And Johnson doesn’t just play it - he defines it. If there’s any hope of keeping him in midnight green for another season, the organization should be doing everything it can to make that happen.
Because once Lane Johnson walks away, you don’t just replace him. You feel that absence - in the huddle, in the locker room, and on every snap.