Nick Sirianni Calls Lane Johnson One of the Best in the World After Retirement Hint
Nick Sirianni isn’t ready to talk about life without Lane Johnson. But he’s not shying away from what the veteran right tackle means to his football team, either.
The Philadelphia Eagles head coach offered an emphatic endorsement of Johnson after practice this week, addressing the tackle’s recent admission that 2026 will likely be his final NFL season. “There aren’t many better football players in the world than Lane Johnson,” Sirianni said, according to Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks on X, who posted video of the comments on August 10, 2026.
Nick Sirianni on Lane Johnson’s decision to (likely) retire after this season
Says there aren’t many better football players in the world than Lane Johnson pic.twitter.com/6PiwH65h4c
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 10, 2026
“He’s a phenomenal football player,” Sirianni added. “He’s one of the best guys I’ve been around.”
Johnson, 36, told reporters Saturday that this is probably going to be his last year in the league, capping what could be a 14-season career spent entirely in Philadelphia. He’d been away from training camp for four practices dealing with a personal matter — time with family back in Oklahoma that he said reshaped his thinking about the game.
“I love playing, I love everything this city’s about and my years here,” Johnson said. “But there’s also a feeling of responsibility and duty.”
He pointed to his oldest child turning 13 as part of what pushed him toward the decision, saying those years with his kids are hard to get back.
What Johnson’s Potential Exit Means for the Eagles
Sirianni’s praise reflects Johnson’s importance well beyond his job protecting Jalen Hurts’ blindside. He’s been the anchor of an offensive line that has to keep creating running room for Saquon Barkley and a clean pocket for Philadelphia’s passing game, and the numbers back up how much he’s meant to that unit. Since 2013, the Eagles have averaged 0.04 EPA per play with Johnson on the field, compared to -0.05 EPA per play when he’s off it, according to TruMedia — roughly the gap between a top-three offense and a bottom-five one.
Philadelphia appears to have been planning for this moment already. The team used a third-round pick this year on Miami tackle Markel Bell, a 6-foot-9, 345-pound prospect who’s been taking first-team reps in Johnson’s place during his absence. It’s a long-term succession plan as much as a short-term injury hedge, and Bell has big shoes to fill if Johnson does walk away after this season.
| Category | Lane Johnson’s Career |
|---|---|
| Draft | No. 4 overall, 2013 |
| Pro Bowls | Six |
| All-Pro honors | Five (per CBS Sports: two First Team, three Second Team) |
| Super Bowl titles | Two (Super Bowl LII, Super Bowl LIX) |
| Years with Eagles | 13, entire career |
A Career Built on Consistency
Selected fourth overall out of Oklahoma in the 2013 draft, Johnson has spent his entire career in Philadelphia and built a resume that puts him among the best right tackles of his era. He’s helped the Eagles reach three Super Bowls and win two, and he’s still drawing elite recognition even at 36 — he ranked ninth among all offensive tackles in a recent CBS Sports player poll and even higher, third, in ESPN’s annual poll of league executives and coaches.
None of that is officially final. Johnson has softened retirement talk before — he strongly considered stepping away this past offseason before confirming in February he’d return for a 14th season. Whether this latest declaration holds is something only time will answer. For now, Sirianni and the Eagles are focused on getting the most out of what could be Johnson’s last ride in Philadelphia.
