As the Philadelphia Eagles were working on putting the red bow on their Super Bowl-winning 2024 season, many wondered if two players could possibly follow in the footsteps of ex-Eagles lineman Jason Kelce and call it a career soon.
Brandon Graham and Lane Johnson had a long and successful run with the Eagles. A Super Bowl victory would’ve allowed the seasoned vets to ride off into the sunset. Graham took the opportunity to do so, calling it a career after the Eagles hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy.
As for Johnson, he committed to another year and beyond. Not only did Johnson plan to continue playing through his contract, but he actually inked a one-year extension with the Eagles back in March. According to NFL.com, Johnson is signed through 2027 with the Eagles.
Although Johnson’s getting up there in age, being the longest-tenured Eagle on the roster currently, the Pro Bowl lineman made a bold statement, which suggested he doesn’t believe he is on the other side of his peak just yet. In fact, Johnson feels like he’s just now approaching it.
“I feel like I’m getting close to maybe my peak,” Johnson told reporters this week, according to NFL.com.
“As weird as it is to say, but that’s truly how I feel. I feel like even though I’m 35, I feel better than I was when I started (or when I was) 29 or 30.I had the (ankle) surgeries, and so for me, the toughest year was ’21, and you can go back and watch it, you can clearly see on film, I was very hindered with my left foot.”
Since the Eagles drafted Johnson fourth overall out of Oklahoma in 2013, he’s been one of the top tackles in the game. Johnson quickly caught on and helped the Eagles maintain a strong offensive line over the years, but he ran into some hiccups early on. Injuries and suspensions made it seem as if Johnson wasn’t able to reach his full potential as a star lineman. In his eyes, all of that was just delayed.
At this stage in his career, Johnson is a six-time Pro Bowler, a three-time Second-Team All-Pro, a two-time First-Team All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion. At 35, Johnson is hoping to continue protecting the Eagles’ franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, for years to come, as the Eagles remain ultra-competitive. The Eagles must feel good about the mentality of their seasoned veteran, who doesn’t seem to be questioning where he’s at, at this stage of his career.
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