From the outside, it hardly looked like it, but Lane Johnson’s early football career was a “living hell”. He admitted it himself. He loved the sport, yet somewhere deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t cut out for it. That inner conflict manifested through physical symptoms: anxiety, vomiting, and dry heaving. And yet, despite it all, Johnson went on to spend 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and won two Super Bowls.

While few offensive linemen manage to sustain dominance into their mid-30s, the 36-year-old is still holding his own. But even as he continues to thrive, Johnson knows the clock is ticking. The 14th season, he says, will be his last.

“As you get older, your children, parents get older and so, just putting into perspective, it’s looking like this is probably going to be my last year,” Johnson told reporters after Friday’s practice. “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.”

The right tackle returned to training camp after missing four days of practice due to personal reasons. Johnson explained that his decision to retire after his 14th season stems from the personal obligations he has away from football. The 36-year-old tackle wants to focus more on his personal life because “it’s hard to get time back,” and he is looking forward to what he called a “fun transition.”

“You can’t play forever. 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.”

The Eagles drafted Johnson fourth overall in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Since then, he has become one of the strongest voices in the locker room and has started all 168 games he has played in.

During his time with the Eagles, Johnson has seen four head-coaching changes, several quarterback changes, and won two Super Bowls. Johnson, who is widely considered a future Hall of Famer, married Kelsey Holmer this offseason and feels it is time to prioritize his family. The Eagles tackle was previously married to Chelsea Goodman and has three children.

Johnson is set to earn a base salary of $1.3 million this season and carries a cap hit of $20.29 million. He is under contract through the 2027 season, but his latest comments suggest that he may not play beyond the 2026 campaign.

That is why concerns grew when Johnson did not attend training camp after participating in the first practice on July 30.

Lane Johnson explains his absence amid Eagles’ major coaching change

During his press conference, Johnson explained that he missed practice because of a family matter. He revealed that his mother’s health was “struggling,” while the Eagles marked the absence as excused and non-injury-related.

However, NBC Sports Philadelphia reporter Reuben Frank analyzed another factor that may have made Johnson’s absence more concerning.

“Johnson’s absence was a little bit concerning because it lasted so long and because the Eagles have a new offensive line coach in Chris Kuper, who is installing a completely different system of blocking than his predecessor, Jeff Stoutland, and the more time the full unit has together, the better,” Frank wrote on August 7.

Former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was the only position coach Johnson had worked under during his 13 years with Philadelphia. That’s why Stoutland’s departure was a major change for the veteran tackle. In June, Johnson described Stoutland’s firing as a “shocking ordeal.”

In fact, Johnson told reporters in June: “As far as replacing Stout, it’s gonna be hard to replace that kind of guy in my life. Being the mentor and my coach all these years. But you know with our system now, there’s a lot to learn.”

Although retirement appears to be approaching, Johnson is not treating the season like a farewell tour just yet. He still wants to stay healthy and enjoy his final year.

Eagles’ offense will take a hit after Johnson’s retirement

Johnson wasn’t just another piece of the Eagles’ offense. He was part of the foundation of their greatest era. During his time anchoring the right tackle spot, Philadelphia reached the summit twice, winning two Super Bowl titles.

His tenure didn’t just coincide with the franchise’s most successful run; it helped define it. However, years of dominance have made his excellence at right tackle feel almost routine. He has been so consistently dependable that his impact can easily fade into the background, simply because everyone just expects it.

So, when Johnson finally walks away, the Eagles could feel the void he leaves behind. But they won’t be without a safety net. With a defense capable of carrying its share of the load, Philadelphia has the firepower to soften the blow of losing one of its most dependable pieces.