Lane Johnson, the longtime Philadelphia Eagles right tackle, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, midway through his 14th season.
Why did Lane Johnson retire?
In an emotional social media post, Lane Johnson said he made the decision primarily to prioritize his mental health and spend more time with his family.
He wrote, “I deeply wanted to gut it out for one more year; to take the field with my brothers for one last season. But after a lot of reflection, I’ve realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed. 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.”
He added that what matters most now is "continuing to focus on my mental health and spending more time with my kids and family."
Johnson also thanked Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and the entire organization for “taking a chance on a kid from small-town East Texas, and changing my life forever.”
"Philadelphia will always be home, and I will forever be an Eagle. Thank you for the love and the enduring support," he concluded.
{{/usCountry}}"Philadelphia will always be home, and I will forever be an Eagle. Thank you for the love and the enduring support," he concluded.
{{/usCountry}}Jeffrey Lurie praises Lane Johnson
Shortly after Lane Johnson's announcement, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie released a statement, calling Johnson "one of the best players ever to play his position in NFL history."
“Lane was a major contributor to our team success for 14 seasons, helping to bring two Super Bowl championships and many other memorable moments to the organization and the city of Philadelphia," he said.
“Lane excelled under multiple coaching staffs, maintaining an elite level of play throughout his entire career. His combination of talent, strength, athleticism, and intelligence made him a truly unique player in this league, and there is no doubt in my mind that one day he will be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame."