Lane Johnson chuckled out loud as he started to relay his funniest story about Eagles’ legend, Brandon Graham. The retired pass rusher wore his reputation as the most vocal trash-talker on the Eagles as a badge of honor — torn and tattered, with “cuss words” draped from the seams. Johnson loved hearing him jaw.
The 34-year-old right tackle will certainly miss seeing Graham’s face staring him down at practice. He always had a smile on his face, even when spewing venom and putting teammates on notice.
“He’d always say, ‘I’m on ya, cuss word, 65,” Johnson told reporters, refusing to say the word “ass” during a recent press conference.
Then, with a grin hijacking his face, Johnson shared a hilarious tale from a joint practice in 2021. The Eagles and Jets were going at it during the first scrimmage — live reps, with the pads on, on a humid August day in New Jersey — in what Johnson called “one of the longest, hardest practices we ever had.” Things got particularly heated after a shoving match between Javon Hargrave and Dan Freeney, causing Graham to expect some kind of reward in the form of an off-day.
Johnson said: “I remember the next day we’re getting up for breakfast and he goes, ‘Man, are we in pads today? Or are we walking through?’ And I said, ‘You think we traveled over here to have a walk-thorugh with these guys, BG? … he thought we were doing a walk-through on the second day, not a full padded practice.”
Johnson couldn’t stop laughing as he remembered the scene. Those are the tiny bonding moments he’ll never forget, not just with Graham but with all his Eagles teammates. The fourth overall pick from the 2013 NFL Draft is nearing his 35th birthday (May 8), inching closer and closer to retirement.
“When you’re about to turn 35 you tend to reflect a lot, especially in the league,” Johnson said. “It’s been a fun ride coming into the NFL. You don’t know what to expect but this fan base has really embraced me through the good and the bad, and I think that we’ve really … the culture here has been a certain way for a long time and I felt like I was introduced to something special, and in some aspects, we were able to carry on traditions, and I guess that is what I’m most proud of. You know, with new teammates coming in, to show them what Philadelphia is about and what this team is about, and what it’s like in this building.”
Lane Johnson Inks One-Year Contract Extension
The Eagles inked Johnson to a one-year contract extension on March 17, adding an additional $30 million in guaranteed money (via NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport) over the next two years. He is now locked up through the 2027 season, and Johnson expects to honor the deal, assuming his aging body can hold up.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s very possible,” Johnson said about playing three more years, to age 38. “I think when you get to this stage of your career you take it year by year but physically I feel really good. I was thinking a few years ago when I was coming back from all these surgeries, that I thought my body was going to start failing or going downhill but I just think with how the strength and conditioning program we have here is, and the stuff we did in the offseason, I feel really good. So, as long as I’m feeling good and I feel like I can contribute, yeah, I’ll continue to play.”
Johnson mentioned how he studies athletes in other sports for tips on staying strong despite advanced age. LeBron James is one of those guys. He also shouted out retired pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan for making him work harder when he was younger. Those “bull rushes” from Kerrigan forced him to “keep his bend.” Kerrigan retired in 2022 after a brief stint with the Eagles. His 95.5 sacks are the most in the history of the Washington Commanders.
“It’s very rare that a person can stay with one team 10-plus years, so my goal is to play well to my middle to maybe upper 30s which I’m looking forward to,” Johnson said. “I love the challenge of being the older player and the routine you have to keep up with. I think that’s what I love most about football, just the conflict and the constant trying to improve.”
Talking Eagles Legacy, Pro Football Hall of Fame
There is also the issue of legacy. Johnson already owns two Super Bowl rings, and winning a third one would put him in even rarer company. No Eagles player has ever won three championships. So, yes, the Texas native knows there is more to be written before the sun sets on his career. Johnson also has a legitimate shot at a Gold Jacket, although it won’t be easy to gain enshrinement in Canton. There are only seven right tackles listed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“It’d be an awesome experience,” Johnson said when asked about getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I think a lot of what we do takes a lot of investment from your family, from your friends, really everybody all around. I never wanted to go to another team. The Eagles have always been here for me, good or bad, and so they have been pivotal in my development as a player and as a person off the field. I couldn’t be more excited about staying here.”
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
