Jalen Hurts didn’t waste time making sure Lane Johnson got his due after the veteran tackle’s “Last Dance” declaration.
With Johnson expected to wrap up his Eagles run after the 2026 NFL season, Hurts spoke Tuesday about what his longtime teammate has meant to him and to Philadelphia. Johnson, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, settled in at right tackle right away and stayed there through two head coach firings, a pile of offensive coordinator changes and even a switch in offensive line coaching, turning himself into what is arguably the best player the franchise has ever had at the position.
For Hurts, though, the story is also personal. Johnson has been a steady presence through Hurts’ own rise from second-round pick out of Oklahoma, and the two have spent plenty of time building that bond inside and outside the building.
“Lane is a special player. He's had a very special career. And, you know, to get to know him and for him to immerse himself into my career and me developing, ever since I walked into Philly, working out together, the times we spent together, I take pride in those things,” Hurts said.
He made it clear he wants Johnson’s final season to land the right way.
“And so, you know, I want to make sure it's a special year for him. You know, I know it takes great courage to say this is the ‘Last Dance,' going into it. And so, you know, I hope he gets everything that he desires out of this year.”
Johnson and Hurts share more than just an Eagles locker room. They’re both Sooners who started their college careers at quarterback elsewhere before finding their way to Philadelphia, where their connection has become one of the more successful player relationships of this era for the team.
When Johnson does finally hang up his cleats, it will be a jolt not to see him in his usual Week 1 spot. But Hurts still has a chance to help send him out the right way, with the kind of ending that would fit an all-time great career.
Jalen Hurts wants to make the 2026 season special for Lane Johnson.
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) August 12, 2026
Johnson, an All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, announced over the weekend that the 2026 season could be his last. pic.twitter.com/16kEOpjREZ
In Other News...
Former Eagles RB Faces Heartbreaking Race Against Time With Daughter
A former NFL running back got a heartbreaking reprieve this week when Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott granted him early release from prison so he could spend time with his critically ill daughter. The ruling came after the judge approved a motion to withdraw the players guilty plea, clearing the way for him to leave despite prosecutors seeking a stay.
The former Eagles back had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, when his case took a deeply personal turn. His 8-year-old daughter Mila is now in palliative care with an aggressive kidney cancer diagnosis, a situation that has shifted the focus far from the legal case and onto a family racing against time. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Receiver Decision They Cant Ignore
Ten practices into camp, the Eagles have gotten encouraging signs along the interior of the offensive line, where the depth looks better than it did a year ago. But the receiver room is still drawing attention for the wrong reasons, especially after the trade of A.J. Brown left a vacancy that has not been cleanly filled. With the roster still taking shape, the team is balancing a few promising position battles against the reality that some areas simply look thinner than others.
Makai Lemons injuries have kept him from getting the kind of run he would need to settle the WR3 discussion, and the competition behind him has not produced an obvious answer. For a team trying to protect itself against more injuries and keep enough trusted bodies on hand, the next move at receiver may need to come from outside the building, even as the Eagles weigh how to preserve depth elsewhere with players like Byron Young, Michael Carter, Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham still mattering in that bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former Eagles Running Back Granted Release Amid Heartbreaking Family Crisis
A former NFL running back who once spent time with the Eagles has been granted early release from prison so he can be with his critically ill daughter, who is now in palliative care after unsuccessful cancer treatments. The decision from Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott came during a deeply personal stretch for the family, marking a rare break from the legal battles that had kept the former back behind bars.
He had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, before the court allowed him to leave. The case also took a procedural turn after a motion to withdraw his guilty plea followed a recent appeals court ruling involving New Jerseys assault weapons ban, adding another layer to an already difficult situation that now centers on his daughters condition. [Read more 🡒]