NFL · Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Eagles' Lane Johnson retires in his 14th season to focus on his mental health
The File desk · Oct 7, 2026, 10:43 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed. NFL.com, published 4:08 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 6, quotes Johnson’s statement. The Eagles’ site, published 3:58 p.m. Eastern the same day, carries chairman Jeffrey Lurie’s statement.
Lane Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles right tackle who helped win two Super Bowls, retired Tuesday, four games into his 14th season. Johnson, 36, said he had “deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year.” He said, “Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health.” He had been a surprise inactive for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie called him “an all-time Eagle” and said he has no doubt Johnson will one day be in the Hall of Fame.
Johnson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 draft. NFL.com says he played 171 games, all starts, reached the postseason nine times, made six Pro Bowls, and earned two first-team All-Pro nods and three second-team nods. The Eagles’ site counts “five Associated Press All-Pro Awards,” plus two Super Bowl victories, three NFC championships, and six Pro Bowl seasons. He played three games this season.
His statement, quoted by NFL.com: “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.”
Lurie’s statement on the team site: “Lane Johnson is an all-time Eagle,” and “there is no doubt in my mind that one day he will be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
The Eagles are 2–2 after two straight losses, and NFL.com says the line is thin because of injuries. The NFL.com Week 5 schedule lists Philadelphia at Jacksonville in London on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, on NFL Network. Who starts at right tackle is not in the pages this desk read.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Who starts at right tackle Sunday. A guard started for Johnson against the Rams, but the name was not in the text this desk kept, so it is not printed here.
- His original social-media post. It was not fetched.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Eagles OT Lane Johnson announces retirement from NFL amid 14th season
NFL.com · October 6, 2026
“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.”
https://www.nfl.com/news/eagles-ot-lane-johnson-announces-retirement-from-nfl-amid-14th-season
Source 2
Lane Johnson announces his retirement
Philadelphia Eagles · October 6, 2026
Lane Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday afternoon, ending a magnificent career with the Eagles that included two Super Bowl victories, three NFC Championships, five Associated Press All-Pro Awards, and six Pro Bowl seasons.
https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/lane-johnson-announces-his-retirement
Source 3
NFL.com Week 5 schedule
NFL.com · October 7, 2026
Eagles at Jaguars, Sunday, October 11th, 9:30 AM, NFLN.
https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2026/by-week/week-5