Lane Johnson is NOT retiring.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ two-time Super Bowl champion right tackle told the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane that he’s officially returning for his 14th NFL season in 2026.
There was previously speculation that Johnson, who turns 36 in May, might call it a career after finishing the 2025 season injured. Jeff Stoutland’s exit didn’t seem to work in favor of Johnson returning.
But former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy recently claimed that Johnson told him he’s not retiring. NFL
insider Adam Schefter also said he expected Johnson to be back.
Not to mention that Johnson would’ve left a lot of money on the table by walking away this offseason.
The Eagles are very happy to have their All-Pro right tackle in place for next season. Especially when there’s uncertainty elsewhere on the offensive line, including as it relates to Stoutland’s replacement: Chris Kuper.
Johnson’s return hardly precludes the Eagles from selecting an offensive tackle as early as the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They’ve had interest in drafting a potential Johnson successor for multiple years now. The rookie could conceivably serve as a swing tackle before eventually taking over as a starter in the future.
As everyone knows, the Eagles are a much better team with Johnson playing than without him. So, this development is a very encouraging sign for 2026.
