Lane Johnson is investing in future generations of underdogs.
The Eagles’ starting right tackle has donated $500,000 to Kilgore College in Texas to create a new 3,800-square foot athletic performance center called “The Lane.”
“I wanted to give back to one of the places that was pivotal for helping with my success,” Johnson said in an official release from the college.
Johnson, 29, played just one season at Kilgore College (in 2008) as a quarterback and tight end before moving on to Oklahoma and eventually becoming a first-round pick. But it’s clear his time in Kilgore, Texas, had a big impact on his success.
Johnson grew up in Groveton, Texas, about a two-hour drive from Kilgore.
I’m finally in a place where I can make these things a reality and inspire the next generation to chase their dreams. It truly is an underdog story – coming from small town East Texas to a JUCO to making it in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl. My whole purpose is to show them that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. The only ones who are going to stop them are themselves and people who are trying to diminish their confidence. I am excited for the future of Kilgore College athletics and look forward to watching this program compete for championships.
Five years after leaving Kilgore, Johnson was taken with the No. 4 pick of the draft. Nine years after leaving Kilgore, he was a Super Bowl champion and has grown into one of the best offensive tackles in the league.
NFL
According to OverTheCap, Johnson has made over $58 million since entering the NFL in 2013. But that doesn’t make his $500,000 donation to a place where he spent just one year any less impressive. "The Lane" is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020.
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.