Lane Johnson Is Coming Back — And the Eagles Need Him More Than Ever

The news Eagles fans needed to hear dropped Thursday morning: Lane Johnson is coming back for his 14th NFL season. And honestly? This might be the most important offseason decision Philadelphia has made so far.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer broke the news, and within minutes, the entire fan base exhaled. Because after a 2025 season that ended with a gut-punch Wild Card loss to San Francisco, 23-19, at the Linc — a game Johnson watched from the sideline with a Lisfranc sprain — the idea of rebuilding that right side of the offensive line from scratch was genuinely terrifying.

The 2025 Season Was a Warning

Let's not sugarcoat it. The Eagles went 11-6 and won the NFC East again. Nick Sirianni's regular-season record as head coach now sits at 59-26. That's elite. But 2025 exposed something this roster has been papering over: when Lane Johnson isn't on the field, the offense looks fundamentally different.

Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions and never came back. He'd already exited four games earlier in the season with various injuries. Fred Johnson filled in admirably — give him credit — but "admirably" doesn't cut it when you're trying to protect Jalen Hurts in January football against a 49ers pass rush that was licking its chops.

The Wild Card loss wasn't entirely about the offensive line, but the inability to sustain drives and protect Hurts in critical moments had Lane Johnson's absence written all over it. When your franchise right tackle — a five-time All-Pro, a future Hall of Famer — is watching in street clothes, your margin for error evaporates.

Why This Return Matters Beyond the Field

Johnson is 35 years old. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. He's been through everything with this franchise — the Chip Kelly chaos, the Super Bowl LII glory, the 2022 Super Bowl heartbreak against Kansas City, and last year's run back to the big game. At some point, retirement rumors were inevitable. They were swirling all offseason.

But here's what matters: Johnson choosing to come back signals something about where he thinks this team is headed. You don't grind through rehab on a Lisfranc injury at 35 to come play for a rebuilding team. Johnson sees a contender. He sees a window. And he wants one more shot.

That belief is contagious in a locker room. Jordan Mailata on the left side, Cam Jurgens at center, Landon Dickerson at guard — this offensive line still has the bones to be the best in football. But it needs its anchor at right tackle.

The Succession Plan Can't Wait

Here's where it gets real: Johnson coming back is the best possible news for 2026, but Howie Roseman cannot treat this as permission to punt on the future. The Eagles need to draft an offensive tackle — probably in the first two rounds — this April. Multiple mock drafts already have them targeting the position, and that's the right call regardless of Johnson's decision.

Johnson's 2025 proved that even the most durable players eventually hit a wall. He missed significant time for the first time in his career. A rookie who can learn behind Johnson for a year — maybe even swing inside to guard for depth — is the kind of smart, forward-thinking move this front office needs to make.

The NFL Combine starts next week. Offensive tackle prospects will be under the microscope. Having Johnson back means Philadelphia can draft the best tackle available without the pressure of needing a Day 1 starter. That's a luxury most teams would kill for.

The Bigger Picture

This offseason is massive for the Eagles. Twenty players are set to hit free agency. The A.J. Brown trade question looms over everything. There's a new offensive coordinator in the building. The 2025 season ended with a whimper when it should have been a roar.

But Lane Johnson coming back? That's a foundation piece. That's the kind of decision that tells the rest of the roster: we're not done. We're not transitioning. We're coming for it.

At 35, with 13 seasons of NFL wear on his body, Lane Johnson could have walked away with his head held high. Instead, he's running it back. Philly should be grateful — and Howie Roseman should be working the phones to make sure this team deserves the commitment Johnson just made.