f.He Didn’t Post a Thing, But What Lane Johnson Did for Zach Ertz Says Everything – Video of the Moment Leaves Fans Speechless.f
The moment Zach Ertz went down — a violent mid-air collision in the third quarter of the Vikings’ 31–0 victory over the Commanders that left Former Super Bowl Champion clutching his right knee, the stadium falling silent as trainers rushed in. Doctors later confirmed a
torn ACL, a devastating, potentially career-ending injury for the 35-year-old tight end. Philadelphia knew the pain too well: this wasn’t just any former player. This was a champion, a brother, a part of the city’s soul. And quietly, without a post or a headline,
Lane Johnson stepped up in a way that defined who he has always been.
For Philadelphians, the news landed like heartbreak. Eagles fans — many of whom still follow Ertz as if he never left — immediately flooded social media with prayers, messages of support, and memories of Super Bowl LII. It wasn’t just sadness. It was a city
mourning one of its own, rallying behind a player who helped define an era of Eagles football.
And out of that collective grief came the quiet, unmistakable act of someone who never needed applause:
Lane Johnson.
Johnson didn’t post a single word online. No tweet. No statement. While still on leave rehabbing his own injury, he contacted the Eagles’ front office, received permission to travel, and took the first available flight to Minnesota to be with the man he has called a brother since both were drafted by Philadelphia in
2013.
Inside Hennepin Healthcare, the hospital just minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium, Johnson arrived close to midnight. Staff said Ertz had been shaken not only by pain, but by hearing that the injury could be
career-ending. Johnson didn’t come with cameras or PR handlers — just presence. Just loyalty. Just family.
When doctors explained the surgery plan and the costs that could rise if complications emerged, Johnson quietly stepped forward and
covered the medical expenses himself. No spotlight. No announcement. His only instruction: “Whatever Zach needs, he gets.”
This is a dirty hit by Jay Ward (#24 Vikings) that has left Zach Ertz down on the field and needing assistance from the trainers to leave the field.
No place for this on the football field. Disgusting play. pic.twitter.com/6eQcVQvDd7 — Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) December 7, 2025
When Ertz was finally discharged, it was Lane — not a team staffer — who helped him out of the hospital, carried his bags, and personally escorted him home.
Yet Johnson wasn’t finished. Knowing Ertz might be facing the end of his playing days, he reached out to teammates, Philadelphia charities, and Minnesota contacts to help establish a support fund for the Ertz family. He contributed himself, privately, as he always has.
“Zach gave everything to Philly — played hurt, sacrificed, never asked for anything,” Johnson told a close friend. “If this is the end of his career, he’s not walking through it alone. He’s my brother. That doesn’t change because jerseys changed.
”
For Eagles fans, Johnson’s gesture resonated even deeper because of Ertz’s legacy: 579 receptions, 6,267 yards, 38 touchdowns, and the unforgettable Super Bowl LII game-tying touchdown that etched his name permanently into Philadelphia history. Even after leaving for Arizona, Ertz remained family — and the city’s reaction to his injury proved it.
As word of Johnson’s actions slowly leaked from hospital staff and former teammates, Philadelphia didn’t praise him for a grand gesture. They recognized something truer: that the brotherhood formed in midnight practices, playoff battles, and championship parades still lives on, long after the confetti stopped falling.
Now, this story isn’t only about a torn ACL in a blowout loss. It’s about a bond stronger than a depth chart, a friendship built across a decade, and a city reminded that its greatest legacy isn’t just a Super Bowl banner — it’s the way its heroes continue to show up for one another when the world stops watching.
Buccaneers legend Tom Brady shatters the silence with a fiery statement defending QB Baker Mayfield
Tampa, Florida – In a stunning twist fewer expected and none saw coming this quickly, Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend
Tom Brady has just broken his silence — and he did it with fire. Only minutes after the Buccaneers’ heartbreaking 24–20 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on December 7, 2025, Brady went on SiriusXM NFL Radio and delivered a scorching defense of quarterback Baker Mayfield, blasting what he called “a disgraceful overreaction” and “a complete misunderstanding of who this man is.”
Brady, who led the Buccaneers to their historic Super Bowl LV title and played in Tampa from 2020–2022, said he couldn’t stay quiet as waves of criticism poured in after the Bucs slipped to 7–6, just one week after snapping a three-game losing streak.
“What are we doing?” Brady said, his voice sharp with disbelief. “This is Baker Mayfield — a quarterback who has dragged this team through storms, who takes hits nobody talks about, who plays through pain, who owns every mistake even when it’s not on him. Criticizing this guy after one tough loss? That’s not football. That’s a betrayal of what this team stands for.”
Mayfield has indeed been fighting an uphill battle. Despite having just helped Tampa Bay break a brutal skid with a win over the Cardinals in Week 13, Sunday’s loss reopened every wound. His stat line — 14 of 30, 122 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT — didn’t tell the full story of a rain-soaked, scrappy divisional fight in which Tampa Bay failed on five fourth-and-shorts, stalled in key red-zone moments, and watched rookie Saints quarterback Tyler Shough run for two back-breaking touchdowns.
But as always, the criticism found Mayfield first. After the loss, some fans and analysts again questioned his leadership, timing, and ability to finish close games — especially after a third-quarter interception that turned into a New Orleans touchdown moments later.
Brady wasn’t having it.
“Baker leads with heart, toughness, accountability — everything you want from the face of your franchise,” Brady continued. “He doesn’t point fingers. He doesn’t hide. He shows up in the hardest moments and says, ‘Put it on me.’ You don’t tear down a guy like that. You support him, especially now.”
Brady also pointed back to Mayfield’s Tampa Bay journey: arriving in 2023 on a prove-it deal, turning it into three straight playoff berths, and earning a four-year, $120 million extension through sheer resilience. “Baker gave this franchise stability when it desperately needed it,” Brady said. “He earned every bit of respect he has — and he deserves more.”
The timing of Brady’s message couldn’t be more explosive. Social media immediately erupted with #StandWithBaker trending minutes after his interview. Fans posted messages ranging from “Brady’s right — Baker is our leader” to “This team rides together.”
Head coach Todd Bowles also weighed in after hearing Brady’s remarks:
“Tom’s always had a great feel for the heartbeat of a team. His words matter. We’ll use that energy moving forward.”
Even players around the league chimed in — including Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who wrote:
“Nothing but respect. Baker battles every snap.”
One moment from Sunday’s loss also went viral: rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, who dropped what could have been a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter, stood at his locker with tears in his eyes and took full responsibility. But Mayfield quietly walked over, put a hand on his shoulder, and told him:
“The ball will come back to you — and we’ll need you when it does.”
Brady referenced that moment in his closing comments.
“That’s who Baker is. A leader. A brother. A fighter. That’s who you bet on.”
And after delivering his fiery defense, Brady didn’t stop at words.
Sources close to the former Buccaneers superstar confirmed that Brady has officially told the organization he will return to Tampa in person, stepping back into the building to visit the team, join them on the practice field, and help lift the locker room’s spirit during this critical stretch of the season.
Brady reportedly told team officials:
“If Baker is fighting for this team, then I’m fighting with him. I’ll be there — in the room, on the field — whatever it takes to help this group get back up.”
For a franchise searching for stability amid turbulence, the promise of the greatest quarterback of all time walking back through those doors might be the spark Tampa Bay desperately needs.
With the Falcons coming to Tampa on Thursday night and the NFC South race tightening, the Buccaneers face a defining stretch — and Brady made his message clear:
“Football is resilience. Stand behind your quarterback. Stand behind Baker. He’s earned it.”
The only question now:
