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Lane Johnson issues blunt update on Eagles' approach, echoing Jalen Hurts

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Forget the confetti cannons. Ignore the glint of championship rings. In Philadelphia, where passion runs thicker than a Pat's King of Frosty, a different energy hums through. It’s the low growl of hunger. And not the satisfied purr of a champion.

The "defending champion" Eagles aren't settling into recliners. Lane Johnson, the bedrock of their offensive line, just set the tone loud and clear.

Johnson cut straight to the chase during a CBS Sports sit-down. Asked about carrying over last year's magic, the All-Pro tackle delivered a Philly-special dose of reality.

Lane Johnson: Hunting, Not Hoarding

"I think when it comes to the next season, I still want to have... we are the hunter approach, not the hunt," Johnson stated firmly. "And so, not defending, you know, we won last year, won the championship last year. It's a new year." His message?

That ring? "You put the ring up and you don't ever put it on again," Johnson added. For him, past glory means zip right now. The season, he stressed, comes "so fast," leaving little time to bask. Ironically, Lane Johnson just received dazzling new jewelry himself.

Mere days post-ring ceremony, Saquon Barkley presented him with a diamond "99" chain, welcoming him to the exclusive Madden 99 Club. "That's awesome," a humble Johnson reacted. "None of it could be possible without my teammates, my coaches... cool thing to have. Very thankful, grateful, and honored."

This individual honor placed him among Eagles legends like Brian Dawkins. But it hasn't shifted his core focus. The Madden 99? A nice perk. The Lombardi? That's the real target they're chasing again. Besides, this mindset isn't just Johnson's solo act.

The Jalen Hurts Influence

It’s a full-team symphony echoing their quarterback. Days earlier, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts declared the past "behind us," pointedly refusing to wear his new ring. "I've moved on, moved on to the new year," Hurts stated, his focus laser-locked on the blank canvas ahead.

Teammate Jordan Mailata bristled at the term "defending champions." He insisted they must "prove it all over again. And that’s the mentality this team is going to have." Coach Nick Sirianni reinforced that mindset through the day-by-day grind. And suddenly, Lane Johnson's "hunter" mantra sounds like the official Eagles doctrine. Besides, Lane Johnson understands the foundation.

Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

He anchored the line that bulldozed the way for Barkley's historic 2,000-yard season and the NFL's total rushing record. "Well, I think it's a reason, you know, he came here and bumped my (rating) up," Johnson quipped about Barkley. His point underscores the Eagles' identity... dominance built in the trenches, fueled by collective effort.

Johnson blocking, Barkley running, Hurts leading... It’s all interconnected. Therefore, individual accolades fade next to the shared mission. As the 2025 season comes closer, you may hear edge rusher Nolan Smith yelling from the sideline, “Hunt, don’t stroll.” And Lane would probably grin. Grind, another rep, another step toward February.

The Eagles aren't just aiming to repeat history. They're determined to forge it anew. One down, one block, one hunt at a time.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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