Lane Johnson decides on retirement following coaching changes

Eagles Spotlight: Lane Johnson Returns for 14th NFL Season

The Eagles can finally exhale.

Lane Johnson is back on the field.

The team’s standout right tackle revealed Thursday that he will play for his 14th NFL season in 2026, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Johnson’s decision follows a Lisfranc injury that caused him to miss the last eight games of the previous season, including a disappointing playoff exit against the 49ers.

Interestingly, this season will be a bit different for Johnson, as he will be under a new offensive line coach for the first time in over ten years.

After the playoff loss, Philadelphia’s offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, stepped down from his role as run game coordinator, particularly after his responsibilities were reportedly diminished by head coach Nick Sirianni during the season.

Stoutland was a significant presence for the Eagles since 2013, having played a major role in their two Super Bowl wins.

The Eagles have brought in Chris Cooper to fill Stoutland’s shoes. Cooper has an interesting background—having played offensive guard for the Broncos from 2006 to 2013, he also coached the Vikings’ offensive line from 2022 to 2025.

Also making moves, the Eagles are set to have a new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, who will replace Kevin Pattullo after a challenging first season.

Cooper’s task won’t be easy, but he inherits an experienced offensive line, featuring veterans like Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson—though Dickerson’s status is still up in the air due to a recent injury.

With Johnson back in the mix, Cooper’s job seems a bit more manageable. Over his career, Johnson has made six Pro Bowls and was recognized as a first-team All-Pro in both 2017 and 2022. He’s also played at least 10 games in eight of the past nine seasons, which is pretty impressive.

As for the Eagles, they’re aiming to recover from a tough postseason showing. The previous season was somewhat unpredictable for Philadelphia, following their convincing Super Bowl win in 2025.

While they clinched the NFC East title for the second straight season, they struggled with consistency throughout their games. There were two four-game winning streaks, but also frustrating two- and three-game losing streaks.

The playoff game against San Francisco didn’t go well, either; the Eagles managed only 19 points and let a touchdown slip through late in the fourth quarter.