Revisiting Lane Johnson's previous statement about his Hall of Fame credentials

One of the things I have always loved about the Philadelphia Eagles is they're never short of a few characters, but more importantly, than being characters, those guys had character. Guys like Jerome Brown come to mind, but so do Brian Dawkins, Malcolm Jenkins, Hugh Douglas, and Trent Cole. Oh, and how could we ever forget about our beloved Jason Kelce?

Brandon Graham recently retired, and with that decision, only one member of the 'Core Four' is still on the Eagles' active roster. Kelce and Fletcher Cox hung their cleats up during the 2024 NFL offseason, making Lane the longest-tenured Bird still playing.

Lane is another of those characters I spoke about. So is his good buddy Chris Long. During the Eagles' march to winning Super Bowl 52, Philly was the NFC's number one seed and a postseason underdog.

Lane and Chris donned dog masks. Fans followed suit, and after a while, it felt as though Eagles Nation had purchased the entire world's supply. That's one of my favorite memories of Lane during his time here.

See? I told you! Characters WITH character...

Also a must read: 7 fantastic stops on Brandon Graham's ride through a legendary Eagles career

Lane Johnson questions his worthiness for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

You've probably figured this out already, but social media can be a cesspool. There are some positives. It has allowed us to reconnect with family and meet people we may not have met otherwise.

If you can weed through the anonymous threats and nonsense, you can always find reasons to smile. It's for that reason, we recommend following Lane on his social media channels. He's one of the 'real ones', as they say.

Recently, after watching him win another Super Bowl, something he said five years ago began circulating. Remember when he said he didn't deserve to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Much has happened since then, and as his legendary career rolls on, so do the discussions about his mortality and immortality. Is Lane Johnson worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Heck yeah, he is, and here are a handful of about 20 reasons why that is true.

Lane Johnson's story reminds us that of another former Eagle.

We hate to bring guys up and mention the low point of their careers. Still, two guys we have a lot of respect for, Lane Johnson and Cris Carter, are two of the best examples we think of when we mention guys who made the most of second chances.

Carter was a former Eagles wide receiver, one with immense talent. He briefly left the game to get his life on track, but he did! And, that's to be commended.

He landed with the Minnesota Vikings, and as they say, the rest is history. There's some beauty in his redemption story.

Lane shouldn't hold his head down. He should hold his head high because his story is also beautiful.

Football is often a game of second chances.

What would football be without second chances? Isn't that why we love redemptive tales and the comeback player of the year award? Think about Ray Lewis for a second. He's another example of what it means to 'fall and get back up'.

He experienced legal trouble while still young, but to his credit, he turned his life around and became one of the game's great ambassadors. Lane dealt with two suspensions for using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), but we also know he dealt with mental health issues.

One of the reasons we love following Lane's social channels is he shares posts to advocate for mental health awareness. While, he experienced setbacks early, he's become an inspiration and leader for many of the young guys in the Eagles' locker room.

Here's the point. Sometimes, it's good to honor these guys for learning from their mistakes and becoming better men. Life is about how you finish, and let's be honest, some of us are in better spots because someone forgave us.

Once Lane's issues with PEDs was a thing of the past, he became a better player.

Sometimes, I ask myself a question. Has anyone noticed Lane became a better player AFTER giving up on PEDs? He hasn't suffered another offense. He hasn't ever run afoul of the law. In my opinion, that has to count for something.

Johnson was suspended for ten games in 2016 for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy for a second time. He had previously been suspended for four games in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance.

He returned in 2017 and GOT BETTER. He has truly aged like a fine wine with all of the postseason accolades being bestowed on him once he learned his ability was enough.

The resume speaks for itself.

Lane Johnson entered the NFL in 2013 as the fourth overall selection of that year's draft. He has notched six Pro Bowl nods (2017–2019, 2022–2024) and has become a two-time First-Team All-Pro (2017, 2022).

There are also three Second-Team All-Pro nods on his resume (2021, 2023, 2024), though that mention in '24 should probably also be a First-Team designation. Did you notice something there? All of those postseason awards came after his pair of suspensions. Is it wrong to consider that when weighing his Hall of Fame worthiness?

There's also this to mull over. His new extension means he'll, in all likelihood, play two more seasons. The resume becomes even more impressive if he adds two more Pro Bowl nods and another All-Pro Team mention (or two).

So, again, we ask you. In what world is Lane Johnson NOT worthy of Pro Football Hall of Fame induction?

Don't worry. We'll wait because, at this point, it's beginning to feel like this is a no-brainer.