Eagles star Lane Johnson announces retirement: 'Critical that I focus on my mental health'
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson announced he is retiring from the NFL, saying "right now it is critical that I focus on my mental health," in a social media post Tuesday.
"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 have changed. Right now it is critical that I focus on my mental health," Johnson said in a statement.
He continued, "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."
The two-time Super Bowl champion's retirement comes in the middle of his 14th NFL season, all of which he played with the Eagles.
Johnson was unexpectedly listed as inactive for the Eagles' home game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. He also missed four practices during training camp for personal reasons, according to ESPN.
"Right now, what's most important to me is continuing to focus on my mental health and continuing to spend more time with my kids and family," Johnson, a father of three, said in his statement Tuesday.
The 36-year-old did not share further specifics on his mental health. He has spoken throughout his NFL career about having dealt with both anxiety and depression since college, according to ESPN.
In 2021, Johnson was briefly absent from the Eagles' lineup, which he later attributed to personal struggles.
"Depression and anxiety are things I've dealt with for a long time and have kept hidden from my friends and family," Johnson wrote on X upon his return in 2021. "If you're reading this and struggling, please know that you are not alone."
The Eagles praised Johnson in a statement Tuesday as one of the "best players ever to play his position in NFL history." The team also recognized Johnson for his off-field philanthropy and advocacy too.
“Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Lane has done a tremendous amount to give back to the community through his numerous charitable endeavors. The courage he has shown using his own personal experiences to advocate for mental health awareness has undoubtedly saved lives," the team said in a statement on social media. "We appreciate everything Lane has contributed to our organization, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.”
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