'Heart tells me it's time': Eagles RT Lane Johnson announces sudden retirement

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-lane/08Tdl8bJ/"]Johnson[/a], 36, was a late inactive for Sunday's 24-20 loss to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Los Angeles Rams[/a], only communicating his sudden absence on Sunday morning.[/p][p]Just two days after the game, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-eagles/dGgVhRLK/"]Philadelphia Eagles[/a] icon announced his sudden retirement with a statement on social media.[/p][p][b]"I have given it my all for 14 years; season after season pushing my body to the max and tirelessly working my craft to not only live up to the legacy of the guys that came before me, but to set a new standard of success for the best franchise in all of sports," [/b]Johnson opened.[/p][p]"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.[/p][p][b]"And right now my heart is telling me that it's time to say goodbye to football. At this time, I have made the[/b][b] incredibly difficult decision to retire from the National Football League."[/b][/p][embed guid="436a857c-607c-4d43-9a26-dc57793dc0b3" url="https://x.com/Eagles/status/2107560552297812144?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lane Johnson was the 4th pick of the 2013 NFL Draft and is considered one of the best players in his draft class. The former Oklahoma Sooner carved out an illustrious football career, earning six Pro Bowl selections, five All-Pro nods (2x First-Team), and, above all, two Super Bowl titles with the Eagles.[/p][p]Johnson missed three games in the 2021 season as he was battling depression.[/p][p]Throughout his 14-year career, Johnson allowed just 20 sacks, 10 of which came in his rookie season. His best season came at age 34, when he allowed no sacks and just one quarterback hit as the Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LIX.[/p][h2]'What's important is to focus on my mental health'[/h2][p]In his statement, the decorated Texan continued by thanking those he met along the way.[/p][p][b]"Thank you to Jeffrey Lurie and the entire Eagles organization for taking a chance on a kid from small-town East Texas, and changing my life forever. And thank you to the many coaches and teammates I've had the honor of working with and playing alongside for the past 14 years; ya'll have become lifelong friends and the brothers that I never had."[/b][/p][embed guid="73a12bac-6b26-45a1-931b-61216e404a48" url="https://x.com/lanejohnson65/status/2107560413525148074?s=52&t=hgnmysfkryApOf7ulhZOTQ" social-type="twitter" /][p]Johnson concluded by emphasising what the next part of his life will be all about: [b]"Right now, what's most important to me is continuing to focus on my mental health and spending more time with my kids and family."[/b][/p][p]With Lane Johnson's retirement, third-round rookie Markel Bell will become the starter at right tackle. Bell, who played at left tackle in college with Miami, started against the Rams and allowed 6 pressures at an 18.8% pressure rate in his NFL debut.[/p][infobox id="20b251ad-200b-415c-a27c-559697b10377" /]