The NFL could be an extremely physically and mentally challenging league. Especially when one tries to hold both of these together in one thread. Let’s just consider the Eagles’ Lane Johnson’s journey. A regular NFL fan is probably aware of his years-long streak without allowing a single sack, but what many don’t know is the struggle he faced outside of the field that nearly made him quit the game.

The nominees for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award have been revealed, and the Eagles’ right tackle, Lane Johnson is one of them. Just like every other inclusion on the list, Lane Johnson brings a unique story to the community. Following the news, the emotional RT went back in time to reveal the tough details from his dark times. He additionally urged his fellow strugglers to let the words out so that they could get the necessary help.

Lane Johnson takes a trip down to his struggling past

Following the inclusion, Lane Johnson had a candid talk with former marine and personal trainer Gabe Rangel, who helped him through his transformation journey. The RT insisted the first mistake he made was keeping his feelings inside him. He said, “I put so much pressure on myself to play, I really kept it all inside.”

He continued about his struggles in late 2020 and 2021 when he nearly gave up on football because of an ankle injury. And how all those activities, or rather lack of it, had a direct effect on his mind.

“I think the best thing you did to me, the way you communicated but… What we kinda developed was a plan, doing the manly way and toughened it out”, Lane Johnson revealed, revealing how he started building his comeback story with the help of his trainer, Gabe Rangel. “All those people suffering, a lot of them don’t have the resources or go to talk to… They’re scared to call people. Conversations can change a lot of it”, he reflected on the time of his life when he could correlate with the individuals struggling with mental health.

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Lane Johnson even vanished from a game once, and another time from a practice session because he wanted to visit his family back in Oklahoma. Even when Johnson came back, he had cut communications with the rest of the world except for his wife. But luckily, the right tackle got the better of his mind and turned into a monster to push the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl.

Lane Johnson today: A tough guy with a soft heart

Following requests from Gabe Rangel and after talking to his teammates, Johnson experienced a slow change of mind. His ankle was slowly recovering, and in the meantime, he also continued with his withdrawal syndrome recovery and medications. All this had positive effects on him, making him more determined and wishful to come back to the league than ever. Lane Johnson also posted a tweet on October 18, 2021, informing everyone about his full comeback.

And he’s been a monster ever since. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson last allowed a sack in November 2020 against the Browns. That’s over 3 years already, and counting. His prowess, combined with the team’s robust defense, turned the Eagles into the best NFC side and took them to the Super Bowl. Outside the field as well, many teammates, including the young draftees, acknowledge Lane Johnson as a role model and the jolliest guy in the locker room. He has also been their go-to guy with depression issues ever since, often helping out with a solution.

Lane Johnson has decided to donate his earnings from the prize money of the award to the Travis Manion Foundation, which looks after veterans. That further solidifies his claim to win the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year!

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