Lane Johnson is a father of three children, two sons and one daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Chelsea Goodman. While Johnson became famous for his long NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, his role as a father has remained one of the most important parts of his life.
The veteran offensive tackle has spoken about wanting to be present as his children grow up, and that priority became particularly significant when he decided to step away from professional football.
For Johnson, retirement was not simply about ending a remarkable football career. It was also about creating more time for his family and being available for the moments that cannot be repeated.
Three Children
Johnson and Goodman have three children: David Jace, Journey Layne and Channing McCoy.
The family includes two boys and one girl, with the children born between 2013 and 2019.
Although Johnson has spent much of his adult life under the spotlight, he has generally tried to give his children a childhood away from the constant attention that comes with being the son or daughter of an NFL star.
His approach to fatherhood has increasingly become part of the story surrounding his career.
Jace Johnson
David Jace Johnson, commonly known as Jace, is Lane’s oldest child.
Jace was born in August 2013, making him the first of Johnson’s three children.
His early childhood included a medical challenge that created an especially personal connection between father and son.
Jace was born with clubfoot, a structural condition affecting the position of the foot. He underwent corrective surgery when he was only three months old.
The procedure was successful, and Jace recovered fully.
For Johnson and his family, the experience became an early reminder that parenthood can bring unexpected challenges. Supporting his son through the procedure and recovery was one of the many experiences that shaped Johnson’s perspective as a father.
Journey Johnson
Johnson’s second child is his daughter, Journey Layne Johnson.
Journey was born in February 2016 and is Johnson’s only daughter.
Growing up with two brothers, Journey occupies a unique place in the family as the only girl.
Her arrival also expanded Johnson’s family during a period when his NFL career was becoming increasingly established.
By the time Journey was born, Johnson had already spent several years with the Eagles and was developing into one of the team’s most important offensive linemen.
Channing Johnson
The youngest member of the family is Channing McCoy Johnson, who is often called McCoy.
McCoy was born in March 2019.
As the youngest of the three children, McCoy arrived while his father was already an established NFL veteran.
By then, Johnson had experienced the intensity of professional football for several seasons and had become a major figure within the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
His youngest son’s arrival gave Johnson another reason to think about the balance between football and family.
Parenting
Being an NFL player meant that Johnson’s schedule could be demanding.
Professional football requires long practices, travel, meetings, offseason workouts and preparation that can consume much of an athlete’s time.
Despite those pressures, Johnson has emphasized the importance of being present for his children.
That commitment became even more important as his children grew older.
Rather than simply measuring his career through games played or achievements on the field, Johnson has increasingly talked about what kind of father he wants to be.
Mental Health
Johnson has also been unusually open about his experiences with severe anxiety.
Instead of keeping those struggles entirely private, he has discussed mental health with his children.
His goal is to help them understand that experiencing anxiety or other emotional difficulties does not make someone weak.
For Johnson, talking openly about mental health is part of being a responsible parent.
He wants his children to see that asking for help and discussing difficult emotions can be healthy rather than something that should be hidden.
Breaking Stigma
Johnson’s conversations with his children are also connected to his broader effort to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health.
Professional athletes are often expected to project toughness at all times, but Johnson has argued through his own experiences that strength can also mean acknowledging when something is wrong.
He wants his children to grow up understanding that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health.
That lesson may ultimately be one of the most important things he passes on to them.
Fatherhood and Retirement
Johnson’s decision to retire from the NFL was closely connected to his family priorities.
After approximately 14 years in professional football, he reached a point where spending more time with his children became increasingly important.
NFL careers are demanding and physically taxing, and Johnson recognized that his children were growing up quickly.
Retirement offered him an opportunity to be more available for school events, family activities and everyday moments that can be difficult to experience when football dominates a player’s schedule.
A Different Chapter
Leaving professional football does not mean Johnson is leaving competition or leadership behind.
Instead, it gives him the chance to focus on a different responsibility.
His three children now become an even bigger part of his post-NFL life.
Jace, Journey and McCoy have grown up watching their father become one of the most respected offensive linemen of his generation.
They have also seen the less visible side of his life, including his willingness to discuss anxiety and the importance of emotional health.
Family First
Lane Johnson’s legacy will always include his accomplishments with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his children provide another way to understand the man behind the helmet.
He is a father of three who has made being present for his children a major priority.
His parenting story includes helping his oldest son through surgery, raising a daughter and youngest son, and teaching all three children that mental health should not be hidden.
As Johnson begins life beyond the NFL, family will remain at the heart of that next chapter.
For Lane Johnson, retirement is not simply the end of football. It is an opportunity to spend more of his time being the father his three children can count on as they grow into adulthood.
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