Lane Johnson announces retirement from NFL four games into 14th season

Lane Johnson contemplated the announcement he made on Tuesday months ago.

He took a brief leave from training camp early on to tend to personal issues, such as his aging parents. It was something he expressed in his first press conference back in August, when he also said that this season would be his last.

And just four games into his 14th season, Johnson is calling it a career.

Johnson was abruptly announced inactive just hours before the Eagles’ 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams for personal reasons. For an already depleted offensive line, it was a huge loss. Third-round pick Markel Bell stepped into huge shoes on incredibly short notice. He may have to work his way into those shoes the rest of the season.

Here is Johnson’s statement, which he posted on social media Tuesday afternoon:

“Philadelphia. You truly are the City of Brotherly Love. The best fans and the most prideful city in the entire world.

“I have 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.

“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, l’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.

“At this time, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to retire from the National Football League.

“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’Il never forget it.

“Thank you to Jeffrey Lurie and the entire Eagles organization for taking a chance on a kid from small-town East Texas, and changing my life forever. And thank you to the many coaches and teammates I’ve had the honor of working with and playing alongside for the past 14 years; ya’ll have become lifelong friends and the brothers that I never had.

“Right now, what’s most important to me is continuing to focus on my mental health and spending more time with my kids and family.

“But Philadelphia will always be home, and I will forever be an Eagle.

“Thank you for the love and the enduring support.”

Johnson finishes his 14-year career playing in and starting 171 games in the regular season and 15 in the postseason, all with the Eagles. The 36-year-old, who was the No. 4 overall pick in 2013 out of Oklahoma, was a two-time first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2022, a three-time second-team All-Pro, and a six-time Pro Bowler. Johnson will become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2032. The chances of a first-ballot induction are high.

He is one of just four players to win two Super Bowls with the Eagles, along with Brandon Graham, Jake Elliott, and Rick Lovato.

In his final full season, 2025, Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain in November. The plan was for Johnson to return for the playoffs, but he was unable to. It was not the way he wanted to go out. He was convinced to return this season, but Johnson will now go out on his own terms.

“Lane Johnson is an all-time Eagle and one of the best players ever to play his position in NFL history,” Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “Lane was a major contributor to our team success for 14 seasons, helping to bring two Super Bowl championships and many other memorable moments to the organization and the city of Philadelphia.

“Lane excelled under multiple coaching staffs, maintaining an elite level of play throughout his entire career. His combination of talent, strength, athleticism, and intelligence made him a truly unique player in this league, and there is no doubt in my mind that one day he will be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Lane has done a tremendous amount to give back to the community through his numerous charitable endeavors. The courage he has shown using his own personal experiences to advocate for mental health awareness has undoubtedly saved lives.

“We appreciate everything Lane has contributed to our organization, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Johnson missed time in the 2021 season due to anxiety and depression. When he returned, he opened up about experiencing severe personal struggles and symptoms during that period. He went on to become an advocate for mental health over the course of his career. Now, he will focus on and prioritize his mental health and his family.

But the Eagles sure will miss perhaps the greatest offensive lineman in franchise history. The Eagles were 98-42-1 with Johnson on the field over his career. Without him, they were 15-29.

It was not always easy. Johnson was suspended twice for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He also had a serious ankle injury in 2018 that lingered for a few years. Still, he battled, came back, and was consistently one of the best players on the field.

The Eagles now go on without Johnson and enter Sunday’s game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars with six Week 1 offensive starters likely unable to play.

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