Is Lane Johnson Retiring? Eagles Ot Says 2026 Is 'probably My Last Year'

Long-time Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson revealed that he is treating the 2026 NFL season as his last during a media availability on Saturday, Aug. 8.

"As you get older, things change in your life, priorities," Johnson told reporters. "Your children get older, parents get older. It just puts things into perspective. It’s looking like it’s potentially going to be probably my last year. Just because I am getting to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don’t enjoy. I love everything about this game and preparing for it, but that’s kind of where I’m at in my career."

Johnson's comments come after he returned to the Eagles on Friday, Aug. 7 after missing four practices for personal reasons. The 36-year-old tackle made it clear his hiatus was not a matter of second-guessing whether to play in the 2026 season. He revealed his mother "is struggling with some health stuff" and also referred to his father.

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However, Johnson acknowledged he did consider retiring following the 2025 NFL season before deciding to come back for one more ride. The common theme among his perspective was a desire to spend more time with his family, especially with his oldest child soon set to turn 13.

"It's hard to get time back, especially those years I feel like are very pivotal," Johnson opined.

Johnson has been an NFL player since the Eagles selected him with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Oklahoma product quickly blossomed into an excellent starter at right tackle and has earned six Pro Bowl nods, two All-Pro first-team selections and won two Super Bowls across 183 career starts, playoffs included.

The 36-year-old is one of just seven players from his 254-man draft class still on an active NFL roster – along with Geno Smith, Travis Kelce, Kyle Juszczyk, Sam Martin and David Quessenberry – but he knows his time in the NFL is winding down despite his continued quality performance.

"You can't play forever," Johnson said. "Not everybody can do what LeBron James is doing. But I am 36, so it is weird to say, but all the support, all the love here, and I plan on having a really good last year."

And what is Johnson hoping to get out of his final NFL season?

"I'm just looking forward to this year, playing the best I can and stay healthy," Johnson said. "That’s about it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Lane Johnson retiring? Eagles OT says 2026 is 'probably my last year'