Philadelphia Eagles Right Tackle Lane Johnson Retires

Lane Johnson, a cornerstone right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, according to reporting from The Guardian. The 36-year-old veteran spent his entire 14-season professional career with Philadelphia, starting 171 regular-season games.

Writing on social media, Johnson noted that although he wanted to play one more season alongside his teammates, he chose to retire to focus on his family and prioritize his mental health. Johnson stated that it was "critical" to focus on his mental health, noting that he owed full commitment to the organization, coaches, teammates, and supporters if he remained in the game.

Drafted by the Eagles as the fourth overall pick in 2013, Johnson leaves as one of the most decorated offensive linemen in franchise history. His accolades include six Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. During his tenure, he helped the Eagles reach three Super Bowls, winning two.

The announcement follows a series of absences reported by The Guardian, including four missed training camp practices for personal reasons and a surprise inactive status for a game against the Los Angeles Rams two days prior to the retirement announcement. In a previous comment after returning from training camp, Johnson had acknowledged that the current season would likely be his last.

Johnson expressed gratitude toward his teammates, the organization, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, stating he worked tirelessly to set a new standard of success for the franchise.