Legendary Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham announced his retirement earlier this week, making right tackle Lane Johnson the longest-tenured member of the Eagles. Johnson signed a one-year extension with Philadelphia that will keep him under contract through the 2027 season, positioning him to hold this distinction for several years. If he plays through his contract, he will have spent 15 seasons with the team.
Johnson spoke with NBC Sports Philadelphia about the possibility of finishing his contract. When asked if playing for three more years was feasible, he expressed optimism: “Yeah, I mean it’s very possible. I think when you get to this stage of your career, you take it year by year, but physically I feel really good. You know, a few years ago when I was coming back from all these (ankle) surgeries, I thought my body was going to start failing or going downhill. But with the strength and conditioning program we have here and the offseason work, I feel really good.”
“So, as long as I’m feeling good and can contribute, I think I’ll continue to play. It’s all I’ve really known, and I just love my football family. I’m an only child, so my brothers are here, and have always been in the locker room—that’s how I feel,” Johnson added. He spoke about his evolution over the course of his career, stating, “As a younger player, I needed to get stronger to handle bull rushes, especially from Ryan Kerrigan. After that, I focused on what I needed to improve each offseason to become a better player. Year after year, I feel like I’ve progressed; it’s about strength, flexibility, and maintaining the ability to explode and burst.”
Reflecting on inspiration from other athletes, Johnson noted, “When I look at athletes, like what LeBron’s doing or Olympic champions like Mijaín López, who won his fifth gold medal at 41, it shows that people can surpass perceived barriers. I look to those athletes for inspiration and know it’s possible.” It’ll be interesting to see if Johnson can have a LeBron-like career trajectory, continuing to improve with age.
