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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 12: Landon Dickerson #69 and Jordan Mailata #68 of the Philadelphia Eagles line up against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles are looking collect and re-build and rebuild after their 2025 season ended with them falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, despite being big pre-game favorites.
The team will be without legendary offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, who will not return to the organization in 2026, who has overseen some of the consistently best offensive line in Philadelphia for more than the decade since taking over duties in 2013.
To add to that, concern has been growing about the future of Lane Johnson, with some prominent voices already believing he is as good as retired now that Stoutland has left the building.
However, according to The Athletic’s Jeff McLane, speaking on unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane, noted that comparatively young guard, Landon Dickerson, is actually a bigger risk to not return in 2026.
“Landon Dickerson maybe even more of a question mark to me”, McLane said with regards to the chances of the three-time Pro Bowler returning to the team in 2026.
New Report Confirms Eagles OL’s Questionable Future
This was followed by a report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, who reported that he had been hearing similar things about the health of Dickerson, despite him being just 27 years of age and ostensibly healthy.
An offseason of significant change for the #Eagles could include G Landon Dickerson‘s uncertain future. @Jeff_McLane mentions here Dickerson’s no certainty to return. I’ve heard some of the same. Only 27 and five years into his career but his body has been through a lot. TBD. https://t.co/NUMdVoLnY2
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 6, 2026
“An offseason of significant change for the #Eagles could include G Landon Dickerson‘s uncertain future.” Garafolo reported on Thursday night. “Jeff_McLane mentions here Dickerson’s no certainty to return. I’ve heard some of the same. Only 27 and five years into his career but his body has been through a lot. TBD.”
Garafolo notes that his body has “been through a lot” and that his status to keep playing football is “TBD” (to be determined).
Losing Dickerson and Johnson Would Be a Huge Blow
Philadelphia has long been aware of Johnson impending retirement, whether it be in 2026, 2027 or even later. But to see the five-time All-Pro hang up his boots would likely be no major sticking point in the plans of general manager, Howie Roseman, who has been aware of this eventuality for a considerable time.
Dickerson, on the other hand, is a very different matter. The guard signed a four year, $84 million extension back in 2024, which at the time made him the highest paid at his position in the NFL, although he has since been overtaken by the likes of Kansas City Chiefs‘ Trey Smith and the Dallas Cowboys‘ Tyler Smith.
Tyler Steen finally started showing the capabilities that saw the team draft him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but without Dickerson there will no doubt be a large Pro-Bowl hole in the heart of the Eagles’ offensive line.
And having regressed slightly in 2025 – although the unit was still ranked #7 in the league by Pro Football Focus – the last thing the Eagles want is to be down one the league’s top interior offensive linemen and one of the greatest right tackle’s of all time in Johnson.
One thing is clear: if there is wavering on the front of either of the two players, expect the Eagles to attack Jalen Hurts’ protection aggressively in free agency and the draft this spring.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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