By Hodari P.T. Brown | October 7, 2026 When Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson announced his abrupt retirement from the National Football League after 14 seasons, the conversation should have centered on his courage, his well-being, his family, and the reality that professional athletes are human beings before they are entertainers. Instead, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith turned Johnson’s decision into a controversial discussion about the timing of his retirement and the Eagles’ disappointing start to the season. During Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take, Smith questioned why Johnson would retire…
Read MoreMental Health Is Bigger Than Football: Stephen A. Smith, ESPN, and the Humanity Behind Lane Johnson’s Retirement
