Philadelphia Eagles star right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL in a social media post on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Johnson, who had weighed retirement this offseason, surprised many with his absence from Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. The team did not know until that morning that Johnson would not play.
Announcing his retirement on Instagram, Johnson wrote, "I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year; to take the field with my brothers for one last season." He revealed that mounting stress forced him to change his life goals, adding, "But after a lot of reflection, I've realised that my personal and family priorities have changed. Right now it's critical that I focus on my mental health."
Johnson concluded, "I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organisation 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." Rookie Markel Bell has joined the team as his replacement, with reports suggesting he will step in for the rest of the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold a 2-2 record. The 36-year-old Johnson has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career since being selected fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. He earned six Pro Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro selections, and helped lead the Eagles to a pair of Super Bowl titles.