Eagles' Lane Johnson Shockingly Announces Retirement

Philadelphia Eagles star right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement on Tuesday. Johnson was inactive for Week 4's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams for personal reasons and is now retiring after a 14-year career.

In a social media post, Johnson stated that he wanted to finish out one more season with his teammates, but after reflecting, he decided it was important to focus on his mental health. He added that he owes his teammates, coaches, and fans 100 percent in the game, and that his heart has led him to retire.

Johnson had an incredible career with Philadelphia after they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The 36-year-old was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro. Johnson was a pivotal piece on the Eagles' offensive line over the years, helping them win two Super Bowls.

Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie released a statement calling Johnson an all-time Eagle and praising him for helping the team win two Super Bowls and excel under multiple coaching staffs. He praised his courage for sharing his mental health experiences and wished him and his family the best in his retirement.

With Johnson retiring, Philadelphia will likely turn to Markel Bell as their starting right tackle. He started there in Johnson's absence in Week 4. The Eagles selected Bell in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he has now become a crucial starter for their offensive line.

Philadelphia's offense has struggled in the 2026 season, and with their injuries to key players like Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and now the retirement of Johnson, it becomes a bigger challenge to start playing at a high level.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 713 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown through the first four games.

The 28-year-old needs to be more efficient in the passing game and get his wide receivers to step up. First-round pick Makai Lemon hasn't had much of an impact, with 10 receptions for 65 yards.

The run game has also struggled, and with injuries to Barkley and Tank Bigsby, it will be difficult to establish the run.

Although it's disappointing that Johnson is retiring, it's important that he is taking care of his mental health. He had a phenomenal career and established himself as one of the greatest Eagles players of all time.