00:00One of the absolutely greatest football players in the last 25 years called it a career this week, and his
00:06name is Lane Johnson.
00:08The offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles in his 14 years has called it a career.
00:15Lane Johnson, obviously, when you look at what he's accomplished, two-time Super Bowl champion, three NFC championships, revolutionized the
00:24right tackle position,
00:25where in years past, nobody really looked at that right tackle position and put it in the same room with
00:31the left tackle position,
00:32because that's where all the money was, at the offensive side of the football team, was the left tackle.
00:38Well, he revolutionized that, because now you see coordinators on the defensive side moving those pass rushers all over the
00:45field,
00:46and Lane Johnson has changed that distinction of what that position is all about.
00:51Truly one of the greatest players of all time, one of the greatest teammates of all time.
00:56He also battles depression, and he also battles something that many football players in the National Football League are afraid
01:03to talk about.
01:04But now, with more help, people have the ability to be able to talk publicly about it.
01:11In years past, when I played, there was no one really to go to.
01:16Folks, everyone always asks me the question, why didn't you make it in the NFL?
01:19Well, I walked away from the game.
01:23I had a contract on the same level as Jerome Brown, who was the ninth pick in the draft.
01:30And I walked away from the game.
01:32Biggest regret I've ever had in my entire life.
01:35I went back and I played in minor leagues, Canadian League, the World League of American Football.
01:42I did all that.
01:42Played in leagues that were just off, not really getting an opportunity to get back into the NFL.
01:47A couple opportunities, and it's my biggest regret.
01:51Look, mental health is real.
01:53That game takes so much from you, not just physically, but mentally.
01:59Stephen A. Smith thought it was funny to start goofing on a guy with depression.
02:05I remember everybody over at that network, ESPN, was sitting there ripping everyone when Simone Biles was talking about her
02:14issues at the Olympic Games.
02:16Lane Johnson, because he's a football player, Stephen thought it was funny to mock him.
02:21Dude, when Lane stepped away from the game, I felt for the guy.
02:27Look, the game itself, I've never in my life ever really told people that all the things I had, I
02:34had everything.
02:35I never, ever will ever get over the fact that one day I was there around week nine or ten
02:42saying,
02:43I wish this would all go away, and I wish I would get cut.
02:49I was the 56th player taken.
02:51I was taken in a supplemental draft.
02:53I was a football player.
02:55By the way, I'm not crying here, looking for sympathy.
02:57Just telling you a story.
03:00Telling you a story of what many players go through that really don't like to go public.
03:04It's a real thing, dude.
03:06And again, no one's looking for sympathy.
03:09Anybody would change places with anyone who's ever been at that level.
03:14I couldn't believe it.
03:15And I look in the mirror still to this day.
03:17I can't believe those words came out of my mouth.
03:19God, please take the game away from me.
03:21I don't want to do this any longer.
03:25Mental health is an issue.
03:27And it happens to many of these players.
03:30I also put out a comment a couple days ago on Lane.
03:34I told Lane, Lane, go be with your family, man.
03:37Go take care of yourself.
03:39You can't be half in.
03:41You can't be half with your team and half taking care of your mental health
03:46and your parents who are struggling with their health.
03:48Go home, man.
03:51Your first and number one priority is you.
03:54You've got to take care of yourself.
03:57You can't sit there and be half in.
03:59You can't go, well, you know what?
04:01I want to try to gut it.
04:02You can't gut nothing out.
04:03When you've got mental health issues and you've got issues like this, trust me, you've got to be all in
04:13on taking care of yourself.
04:15Biggest regret I've ever had is not being able to deal with it when I was younger and not understanding
04:20it at the time.
04:21You imagine walking in to your head football coach, Ray Perkins, and look at him and saying, hey, coach, I'm
04:28done.
04:28I had just got there.
04:31He looked at me and he goes, and then I tried to come back and then it didn't happen.
04:37I walked away from the game.
04:4056 player taken.
04:42Had everything.
04:44$300,000 signing bonus.
04:46I mean, first round contract.
04:49And I'm just telling you a story.
04:52So the next time you see people like Stephen A. Smith, now you understand why people sit in the stands.
04:59Okay.
05:00And there's more people in the stands than there are on the field.
05:04Because they'll never get the NFL.
05:06Takes a lot out of you.
05:08Mentally and physically.
05:11It takes a ton out of you.
05:14Godspeed, Lane Johnson.
05:16And I hope in his next chapter, he finds peace.
05:20Because that's what this is all about.
05:23One of the most accomplished people in NFL history.
05:26Right now he's looking for peace.
05:28And I hope he finds it on his journey.
05:30Truly one of the greatest teammates and greatest football players that we have ever seen.
05:36Good luck to you, brother.
05:38I hope your health is well.
