Lane Johnson’s Eagles run came to an abrupt end Tuesday, when the veteran right tackle announced he is retiring after 13 years and three games.
The timing caught plenty of people off guard. Johnson, 36, had told the Eagles on Sunday morning, just hours before their game against the Los Angeles Rams, that he would not be able to play because of personal matters.
Two days later, the decision became permanent. Brandon Graham, a longtime friend and teammate, had already let it slip Sunday evening on an Eagles show that Johnson was weighing immediate retirement.
He was right.
In his statement, Johnson reflected on the grind that carried him through nearly 14 seasons.
“I’ve given it my all for 14 years; season after season pushing my body to the max and tirelessly working my craft to not only live up to the legacy of the guys that came before me, but to set a new standard of success for the best franchise in all of sports.”
Johnson also said the choice was tied to his mental health and the need to spend more time with his kids and family.
“I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year to take the field with my brothers for one last season, but after a lot of reflection, I’ve realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed," he said. "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.”
For Johnson, the memories at the top of the mountain stand out above everything else. He called the Eagles’ two championship parades the highlights of his career.
“Riding up Broad Street as a world champion, not once, but twice, and seeing the city in all its glory was the ultimate privilege; I’ll never forget,” he said.
Johnson leaves as one of the most decorated players in Eagles history. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion, a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. He played in 171 games for Philadelphia, and every one of them was a start, which puts him eighth on the franchise’s all-time games played list.
The next conversation now turns to Canton, where a Hall of Fame case seems to be waiting. Owner Jeffrey Lurie made that case plain in a statement, calling Johnson “an all-time Eagle and one of the best players ever to play his position in NFL history.”
Lurie added: “Lane was a major contributor to our team’s success for 14 seasons, helping to bring two Super Bowl championships and many other memorable moments to the organization and the city of Philadelphia.”
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