Lane Johnson, the former Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle who became one of the NFL's most decorated linemen, announced his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Johnson, 36, posted a statement on social media calling the decision "incredibly difficult" but said he needs to focus on his mental health and family. He played three games this season before being a surprise inactive for the Eagles' Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 4.
"Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health," Johnson said in his statement. "I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organization and the fans to have my head and heart 100 percent in the game."
Johnson's path to NFL stardom ran straight through Norman. He transferred to OU from Kilgore College in East Texas and initially served as a scout team quarterback during his redshirt season. He moved to tight end and defensive end in 2010, then to settled into right tackle in 2011. When two starting offensive linemen went down with injuries that fall, OU offensive line coach Bruce Kittle asked Johnson to try out at tackle. Kittle was struck by Johnson's footwork and natural pass-blocking abilities and made the switch permanent, Sooners Wire reported.
Johnson started at right tackle in 2011, moved to left tackle as a senior in 2012 and earned third-team All-American honors. The Eagles selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Over 14 seasons in Philadelphia, Johnson started 171 games and earned six Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors and three second-team All-Pro nods, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. He helped the Eagles win two Super Bowls and reach a third. Philadelphia made the postseason nine times during his tenure.
The win-loss split tells the story. Since 2016, the Eagles went 98-42-1, including police, with Johnson in the lineup and 15-29 without him, NBC Sports Philadelphia reported.
Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement that Johnson ranks among the best to ever play his position and expressed confidence Johnson will one day be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Johnson becomes eligible in 2032.
Johnson's career included adversity. He served a four-game suspension in 2014 and a 10-game suspension in 2016 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, according to CBS News Philadelphia. In 2021, he stepped away from the team for several games and publicly discussed his battle with depression and anxiety. He suffered a Lisfranc injury during the 2025 season that ended his year early.
Off the field, Johnson recorded three Christmas charity albums with teammates Jason Kelce and Jordan Mailata that raised millions for Philadelphia-area charities, Billy Penn reported. He was the Eagles' 2023 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Rookie third-round pick Markel Bell, drafted from the University of Miami, started in Johnson's place in Week 4 and is in line to remain at right tackle, according to Billy Penn.
