At 35 years old and entering his 13th NFL season, Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson should be contemplating retirement. Instead, he’s making headlines with a bold claim that’s turning heads across the league. “Now, I feel like even though I’m 35, I feel better than I was when I started (or when I was) 29 or 30,” Johnson said after a recent OTA practice. “And now, I feel like I’m getting close to maybe my peak. As weird as it is to say, but that’s truly how I feel.”
For most players, such a statement would seem absurd, but Johnson isn’t your average NFL veteran. His resume backs up his confidence. Over the past four seasons, he’s earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors and has racked up six Pro Bowl selections. Johnson is one of only two position players in Eagles history—alongside teammate Brandon Graham—to win two Super Bowls in Philadelphia. Last season, at 34, he became the oldest Pro Bowl right tackle since Hall of Famer Jackie Slater in 1990. He now stands among an elite group of just five offensive tackles in NFL history with two championships, two first-team All-Pro nods, and at least six Pro Bowls. The others—Forrest Gregg, Jim Parker, Art Shell, and Rayfield Wright—are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Despite his accolades, Johnson felt overlooked in 2024 when the All-Pro nod went to Detroit Lions’ Penei Sewell. The perceived snub still drives him. “Yeah, with anything you read, you try to change,” Johnson told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “If somebody has a bad opinion of you, hopefully you can get out there in the field and maybe change their narrative on you. The only way how is to be more violent. For me, that’s what it’s going to take.” His fiery response has sparked debate, with some praising his competitive edge and others questioning whether “violence” is the right approach in today’s NFL.
Johnson’s resurgence is even more remarkable considering his physical challenges. After enduring multiple ankle surgeries and a grueling 2021 season where he was visibly hindered, he’s bounced back stronger than ever. “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,” he admitted. Now healthy, Johnson believes he’s returned to his dominant form, even joking, “Maybe they need to do a Combine for guys 10 years (in the league), see how we do compared to 10 years ago.”
Much of Johnson’s sustained excellence stems from his time in Philadelphia, particularly under the guidance of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Reflecting on the 2013 NFL Draft, where Kansas City, Jacksonville, and Miami picked ahead of the Eagles, Johnson knows his career could have taken a different path. “I thought about what would have happened if I went to Miami,” he said. “Kansas City wouldn’t have been bad, but, you know, Jacksonville? But yeah, very fortunate to land here, and I just think the passion of the city and the intensity and how they focus so much on the sport, I think it allows, whatever pressure they put on you, I think it allows you to be the best player you can be.”
Johnson’s durability is equally impressive. With 173 starts, including postseason games, he ranks fifth in Eagles history, trailing only Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox among players who spent their entire careers in Philadelphia. If he plays every game in 2025 and 2026, Johnson could surpass Kelce’s franchise-record 205 starts—a milestone well within reach for the veteran lineman.
As the Eagles gear up for another Super Bowl run, Johnson remains focused on the present, with his sights set on adding to his legacy. His claim of peaking at 35 has raised eyebrows, but for a player with Hall of Fame credentials and an unrelenting drive, it’s hard to doubt him. Whether his “violent” approach and bold statements lead to another All-Pro season or fuel further controversy, one thing is clear: Lane Johnson isn’t slowing down anytime soon.