A new era for Philadelphia Eagles football arrived a few seasons ago. When the transition happened, the veteran offensive tackle Lane Johnson was just one of a few players to stick around.
At this point, he holds an impressive title. Johnson is the longest-tenured Eagle still active on the roster. He earned that accomplishment once Brandon Graham officially announced his retirement weeks after the Eagles were crowned Super Bowl LIX champions.
There was a thought that Johnson could follow Graham’s footsteps. Being in the NFL since 2013, the multi-time Pro Bowler has accomplished a lot, and surely should be able to go out proud of his resume.
However, Johnson made it clear he’s not there just yet. On a recent appearance of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Johnson acknowledged that time will ultimately catch up to him, but “Father Time” hasn’t sent him a notice.
“I still feel young in heart, but you can’t ignore Father Time,” Johnson said. “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.”
With a recent extension on his current contract, Johnson is on the books through 2027. He’s got an opportunity to make franchise history, or at least tie it. Brandon Graham, who just wrapped up his career after 15 seasons, played 206 games for the Eagles.
Johnson, entering year 13, has 158 under his belt. Playing through the contract would make Johnson and Graham the only players in team history to have 15 seasons, beating out notable names such as Chuck Bednarik, Jason Kelce, Brian Dawkins, Harold Carmichael, and Bucko Kilroy.
The Eagles picked up Johnson out of Oklahoma in 2013 with their fourth-overall pick. He showed plenty of potential early on, but dealt with suspensions, which took him off track. Once Johnson was able to reset and get back on balance, he ended up becoming one of the most dominant linemen in football.
At this point, Johnson has two First-team All-Pro nods, three second-team All-Pro nods, and six Pro Bowl accolades to his name. He was a part of the Eagles’ three most recent NFC Championship wins and is a two-time Super Bowl champion. The Eagles will have to soon begin training his successor. For the time being, Johnson feels he’s more than capable of handing in All-Pro-worthy efforts.
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