Eagles OT Lane Johnson ahead of Year 13: I feel 'young in heart, but can't ignore Father Time'

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2025-07-10

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Lane Johnson knows he’s on the back nine of his career, but after signing a one-year extension that keeps him with the Eagles through 2027, he’s not considering walking away just yet.

By the time that contract expires, Johnson will be tied with a teammate who recently retired — edge rusher Brandon Graham — as the longest-tenured Eagle in franchise history. Johnson doesn’t take such an honor lightly, but also knows he isn’t an ageless marvel.

“Yeah, if there’s anybody to end a tie with it would be BG (Brandon Graham). It’s crazy that we had a number of guys who all stayed together for all these years,” Johnson said during an appearance on Good Morning Football Wednesday. “Yeah, it doesn’t feel like No. 13 but here it is. I still feel young in heart, but you can’t ignore Father Time. I’m still having fun and enjoying what I do. I love being around the guys, competing and it’s just something that I really love doing every minute of it.”

Johnson’s career has included two Super Bowl triumphs, three head coaches, an assortment of offensive coordinators and one offensive line coach: Jeff Stoutland. The latter is a key reason Johnson keeps returning to the team and continuing a career that will undoubtedly land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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So too is Philadelphia’s success under Nick Sirianni, a coach who has guided them to two Super Bowl appearances in three years and one lopsided triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in February. With that win still fresh in Johnson’s mind and a ring ceremony awaiting him later this month, Johnson has plenty of reason to proceed.

His performance makes it difficult for him to walk away, too. Johnson finished 2024 as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, and remains an essential part of the Eagles’ offensive identity.

Speaking of which, because it’s July, another offensive trademark was mentioned during Johnson’s appearance on GMFB: the Tush Push.

The play — which proved to be a lightning rod during offseason owners meetings — survived a push for its elimination, prompting the GMFB crew to ask Johnson for his latest take on the highly publicized quarterback sneak.

Johnson admitted the play is unique and likely won’t last forever. But for now, it’s a hallmark of what makes the Eagles so difficult to defeat, and they’re going to ride it as long as they can.

“Yeah, it has become a weird play and it’s something that we’ve run every so often,” Johnson said. “I never thought it would have gone to this magnitude of what it has become. Listen, I think the guys should have the votes are probably the center, both the guards and probably the D-tackles that are in the middle.

“It’s something that when you do it consecutively, I think the main thing is worrying about player safety. So, yeah, it’s something I run, and I don’t think a lot about it going into each play. It does favor a rugby scrum but it’s our rugby scrum.”

Super Bowl LIX provided the Eagles with another new possession: Their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. Johnson has been a part of both victories and hopes more are in his future — even if that future might only last for a few more years.