Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson retires after nearly 14 seasons and two Super Bowl titles

Lane Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles' right tackle since 2013, retired from the NFL on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Two days earlier the team had unexpectedly listed him as inactive for its Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson, 36, said in a statement on social media that his personal and family priorities had changed and that he needed to focus on his mental health. He leaves after nearly 14 seasons, all in Philadelphia, with two Super Bowl rings, which are also the only two titles the franchise has won.

Why did Lane Johnson retire now?

Johnson had already said in August that 2026 would probably be his last season. ESPN reported that he missed four training camp practices for personal reasons and later explained that his mother and father both had health problems and that his oldest child was 13. In Tuesday's statement he wrote that he had wanted to play one more full season with his teammates, but that his heart was telling him it was time to step away.

Health on the field was not the issue. According to the Eagles' website, Johnson had recovered from the foot injury that ended his 2025 season early, started the first three games of 2026 and played every offensive snap in them. The team said he ranked first among NFL offensive tackles in pass-blocking grade and pass-block win rate through the first three weeks.

What did Lane Johnson achieve?

Philadelphia drafted Johnson fourth overall out of Oklahoma in 2013. His numbers, as reported by ESPN, NFL.com and the team:

In a statement, team owner Jeffrey Lurie said Johnson was one of the best players ever at his position and predicted he would one day be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His role in mental health awareness

Johnson spoke publicly for years about anxiety and depression that began when he was a college freshman in 2008. He missed three games in 2021 while dealing with withdrawal symptoms after trying to taper off an antidepressant, ESPN recalled. Teammate Jordan Mailata described him then as the focal point of the locker room on mental health. Lurie said Johnson's openness about his own experience had saved lives.

Off the field, Johnson recorded three holiday albums with Jason Kelce and Mailata that raised money for local charities, and the Eagles chose him as their 2023 candidate for the league's Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Who replaces Johnson at right tackle?

Rookie third-round pick Markel Bell started against the Rams and played the whole game. Coach Nick Sirianni said Monday that Bell did some good things but did not play a perfect game. He is in line to start again on Sunday, when the Eagles play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

The timing is hard for Philadelphia. The Eagles are 2-2 after two straight losses, and NFL.com reported that guard Landon Dickerson is on injured reserve, Cam Jurgens is in the concussion protocol and tackle Fred Johnson missed Week 4 with a knee injury.