Lane Johnson
Johnson, the longtime Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle, announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 NFL seasons. The 36-year-old said he had reached the difficult decision after reflecting on his personal and family priorities and realizing that he needed to focus on his mental health. Stephen A. Smith has found himself at the center of a heated controversy after his comments about Lane Johnson’s decision to retire from the NFL sparked backlash from viewers and even an uncomfortable moment among his fellow First Take panelists.
After Smith finished his rant, Martin told him that she felt he was “making light of the situation. “Let me be very, very clear,” Smith said, explaining that he would never make light of mental health issues. The moment became even more uncomfortable when Kimberley A. Martin appeared to challenge Smith over his tone. Instead, Smith argued that his criticism was directed at the Eagles and the chaotic circumstances surrounding the team. He pointed to Johnson’s importance to Philadelphia’s offensive line and argued that it was significant that an elite player would choose to walk away in the middle of a season. His retirement statement ultimately framed the decision around his family, personal priorities and mental health rather than a single incident with the Eagles.
On Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take , Smith discussed the impact Johnson’s retirement could have on an Eagles team already dealing with a number of injuries and struggles.