Jalen Hurts Honors Lane Johnson Ahead of Tackle’s Likely Final Eagles Season
Jalen Hurts wants to send Lane Johnson out the right way. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback addressed his longtime right tackle’s likely retirement after the 2026 season, calling him a “special player” who helped shape his own career in Philadelphia.
Johnson, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, told reporters over the weekend that this season will probably be his last. According to CBS Sports, Johnson said personal priorities away from football have started to take precedence, and he wanted to be upfront about where his head is at heading into training camp. Yahoo Sports reported that Johnson has also been dealing with his mother’s health, one of several family matters weighing on his decision.
Hurts reflects on 13 years alongside Johnson
Hurts didn’t hold back when asked about it. “Lane is a special player. He’s had a very special career. And, you know, to get to know him and for him to immerse himself into my career and me developing, ever since I walked into Philly, working out together, the times we spent together, I take pride in those things,” Hurts said, according to ClutchPoints.
He continued: “And so, you know, I want to make sure it’s a special year for him. You know, I know it takes great courage to say this is the ‘Last Dance,’ going into it. And so, you know, I hope he gets everything that he desires out of this year.”
CBS Philadelphia posted video of Hurts’ remarks on X. “Jalen Hurts wants to make the 2026 season special for Lane Johnson. Johnson, an All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, announced over the weekend that the 2026 season could be his last,” the outlet wrote —
Jalen Hurts wants to make the 2026 season special for Lane Johnson.
Johnson, an All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, announced over the weekend that the 2026 season could be his last. pic.twitter.com/16kEOpjREZ
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) August 12, 2026
The bond runs deeper than most quarterback-tackle pairings. Both Johnson and Hurts started their college careers at other schools before finding their footing at Oklahoma, and that shared path has carried into a locker room where Johnson has protected Hurts’ blind side — er, his right side, technically — since Hurts arrived as a second-round pick in 2020.
A career built on staying power
What separates Johnson isn’t just talent. It’s survival. He’s outlasted two head coaching changes in Philadelphia, a rotating cast of offensive coordinators, and most recently an offensive line coaching shakeup, with Jeff Stoutland stepping aside and Chris Kuper stepping in. Through all of it, Johnson kept his starting job at right tackle, a rare feat at one of the sport’s most physically punishing positions.
The résumé backs up the staying power. Johnson has made six Pro Bowls, earned multiple All-Pro selections, and won two Super Bowls in Philadelphia. He missed the final seven games of the 2025 regular season, plus the Eagles’ playoff loss, with a Lisfranc injury, but chose to return for one more run in 2026 rather than close things out on that note.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| NFL Draft | No. 4 overall, 2013 (Oklahoma) |
| Pro Bowls | 6 |
| Super Bowl titles | 2 |
| 2025 games played | 10 (missed final 7 with Lisfranc injury) |
| Contract status | Signed through 2026 season |
What’s next for the Eagles’ offensive line
Philadelphia has already started planning for life without him. The team used a third-round pick this year on Miami tackle Markel Bell, a 6-foot-9, 345-pound prospect who has been taking first-team reps while Johnson dealt with personal matters away from camp, per Yardbarker. That gives Bell valuable experience now, and positions him as either an emergency fill-in if Johnson gets hurt again or the long-term answer once Johnson does step away.
None of that changes what this season is shaping up to be for Philadelphia’s locker room: a chance to celebrate one of the best to ever play right tackle in an Eagles uniform, with his quarterback publicly leading the tribute before a single regular-season snap has been played.
Nothing is finalized. Johnson has stopped short of a formal retirement announcement, framing it as “probably” and “likely” rather than a certainty, and players who’ve said similar things in the past have occasionally returned. For now, though, the Eagles and their fans are treating 2026 as the farewell tour of a franchise cornerstone.
