KILGORE, Texas — Willie Gooden twists his broad body carefully as he maneuvers through a tight stairwell that leads to his second-floor office. Ceilings are low and the space is cramped, but it’s about what one might expect for Gooden, the football coach at Kilgore, a junior college planted in the thick of the countryside. In a small city built on an East Texas oil field, the population is 14,827. That figure seems generous to Gooden, who has spent most of the past two decades patrolling these parts.

The whiteboard that hangs adjacent to his maple oak desk is filled with Kilgore’s entire offensive playbook. Gooden’s team runs a spread offense. “Texas-sized,” he says. “We put up big numbers.”

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This area serves as Gooden’s safe space. Scattered throughout the room is a variety of football memorabilia. His two favorite items are placed prominently alongside each other on the top shelf of his mini-library. It’s here where he stores a 2017 Pro Bowl game-worn jersey gifted to him from Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson. The other part of this gift is a framed 4x6 photo of Gooden, Johnson, and quarterback Jalen Hurts, the three of them captured in front of Johnson’s home from this past summer.

One of the most tenured players on the team, Johnson is an anchor on the offensive line with the Eagles marching into the NFC wild-card round this weekend in a scheduled matchup versus the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s enjoying arguably the best season of his career.

His climb to this point is remarkable.

When asked about the backstory of the photo, the 40-year-old coach reaches and holds the gold No. 65 jersey in front of him as if he were sizing it up to wear it.

“Lane Johnson, mannn,” Gooden says with a thick southern accent.

Then, he pauses. His diction and tone is deep — his voice reminds you of Samuel L. Jackson’s role as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction — but with some country mixed in.

Gooden continues: “Lane is a damn legend ‘round here.”

A long strip of asphalt separates Kilgore College from the rest of town. There aren’t many gas stations in town, and on this steamy day in September, one of them is temporarily closed.

Located in the center of this tiny town is Kilgore College’s campus. It is made up of a handful of buildings that span just a few blocks. Standing in front of the gymnasium, one can see the other side of the campus without needing to squint.

“We might be small,” former football coach and athletic director Jimmy Rieves says. “But Kilgore has everything you need.”

Just a Hail Mary throw from the gym is a 10-story dormitory hall — the only student housing option offered by the college. According to Rieves and Gooden, the dorm appears exactly the same compared to 2008 when Johnson played quarterback for Kilgore and was housed on the building’s third floor.

It’s easy to believe not much has changed over the years when wandering around campus.

The gymnasium doubles as a rec center for the public. It has a small, run-down track that circles an area filled with cardio machines. Adjacent to the track is the school’s infamous weight room, referred to as “The Pit” by the hundreds of former students who’ve used this space.

It’s difficult to imagine how effective “The Pit” actually is. It has only two squat racks. Nearly all of the weights are outdated and coated with rust. The equipment and barbells seem ancient, but they’re still usable, at least to some. For nearly 90 years, The Pit was the only weight-lifting facility available at the college. There were countless instances when all five of Kilgore’s athletic programs worked out at The Pit simultaneously — in addition to the traffic caused by students and public members.

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“The history of Kilgore College is ... we never had anything of our own,” Rieves said. “When I first arrived in 1997, we shared a stadium and locker room with the high school, we shared a weight room [The Pit] with the public — everybody had to share something. There was no sense of pride in having something that was our own.”

On this Sunday in September, The Pit is dark, quiet, and unused.

As 1 p.m. approaches, a flood of football players pour into the gymnasium. Their sneakers squeak across the tiles at the entrance of the building. Here, the Kilgore College football team huddles and waits for Gooden’s instruction.

“Kilgore is part of my heart every time I step on the field.”

What’s in store for them is a surprise weight-lift session on the heels of a 14-hour bus ride. The team had just arrived from Roswell, N.M., where they played against New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday night.

But the team isn’t headed to The Pit to work out. Not anymore. Ninety-year old weights be damned.

The entrance to “THE LANE” is grand. The sign that is perched in the middle of the front wall is affixed with bold lettering in all caps and neon lights that match the college’s colors, blue and white.

This area of campus seems like a one-off compared to the rest of the aged facilities. Neatly tucked between The Pit and gymnasium, “The Lane” serves as a safe haven for the current generation of Kilgore athletes.

Before entering the weight room, Gooden, Rieves, and fitness center director Blake McCrary pose for a photo. The trio cannot seem to stop smiling.

“We’ll do anything for Lane,” Gooden says, grinning. “Kilgore will always be grateful for the big fella.”

Shortly after Johnson signed his four-year, $72 million extension in November 2019 with the Eagles, the team’s franchise right tackle had the inclination to remember his roots.

He has donned several jerseys over the years — from Groveton High School (Texas) and Kilgore to Oklahoma and the Eagles — but Johnson never forgets Kilgore was the only program that offered him a scholarship out of high school to play quarterback and tight end in 2008.

More than a decade later, Johnson gifted Kilgore College with $500,000, marking one of the largest single donations in program history. He envisioned construction of a new athletic performance center. But considering Johnson’ busy year-round schedule, he entrusted Rieves and McCrary with executing the ambitious plan.

“When I was there, everybody used the universal gym,” Johnson said. “Usually at the JUCO level, they don’t have resources to do a whole lot. As my years accumulated, paychecks came in — it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. I finally got to a point where I could make it happen.”

Upon receiving the funds, Rieves and McCrary immediately went to work. They divulged a blueprint that housed the new weight room in its current space, which used to be filled with unused locker rooms, laundry rooms, and storage. They consulted different construction companies and also received clearance from municipal offices to begin the project.

The finished product features a state-of-the-art weight room, titled “The Lane Johnson Performance Center” or simply, “The Lane.” The training facility spans 3,800 square feet and is equipped with 20 Power Lift squat racks — exactly 18 more than the two original racks in the longstanding Pit. There are human-sized portraits of Johnson during his Kilgore playing days that are appropriately scattered across the windows. Several 55-inch flat screen TVs are perched along the side walls. Located in the back of the room is a mini-shrine that showcases Johnson’s donation of a lifetime.

“The Lane” is a facility that will be adored by generations, past and future. Hurts’ older brother, Averion, played at Kilgore, and Jalen spent many weekends visiting campus and watching games.

“My brother always talked about how much of a grind it was and how real you had to be to make it out of junior college,” Hurts said. “I have a lot of respect for players who come out of junior college because it is tough at times.

“Seeing Lane and him making his way out of it — him doing the things he’s doing now — that’s a special thing and to see what he’s doing back at Kilgore with the facilities and giving back, it’s so special.”

Upon completion of “The Lane,” Kilgore held a dedication in March, when Johnson returned to campus for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman also partook in a ceremonial first lift, in which he threw up a couple presses on one of the new benches.

“He’s such a big inspiration for us,” says current Kilgore right tackle Rodquice Chaney, an All-American. “You never know how far this football journey can take you. When you go JUCO, you create brotherhood and you’ve got those memories because JUCO is just straight grinding.

“We are trying to follow his same path.”

Kilgore’s “MTXE” mantra has existed for decades.

Mental Toughness. Extra Effort.

The four letters are inscribed all throughout the athletic facilities. On the walls, inside the locker rooms, and all over Kilgore’s apparel and gear.

“We live and breathe by it,” Gooden says. “We use that to persevere through tough times. Tough times is what made both of us.”

“Starting from the bottom of the bottom, that’s what MTXE is about. He’s an inspiration for everybody here. His mental fortitude is generational inspiration.”

Johnson was raised on MTXE. It’s a pillar he has carried throughout his life post-Kilgore. He’s used the motto to push himself and play through near-unbearable injuries in past games.

Says Johnson: “The workouts there were super intense. Probably the most intense I’ve ever been a part of, including [Philadelphia] and Oklahoma. Without those guys, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s a unique bond that goes on over there.”

There came a point, though, earlier in the regular season when Johnson’s mental state became vulnerable.

On the morning of Oct. 3 — the same day the Eagles hosted the Kansas City Chiefs — Johnson stuffed a backpack, drove his white Ford Raptor south, and retreated home to Oklahoma.

Johnson wound up missing three games while he treated his depression and mental health. He suffered multiple symptoms, including internal pain and vomiting, after he temporarily abandoned his medication. During his absence, the Eagles maintained privacy and continued to operate without him, although they kept Johnson close to their hearts.

After receiving the proper help and prioritizing himself, Johnson eventually returned to the team. His first game back was Week 8 at Detroit.

“I was ashamed, to be honest,” Johnson said that day. “In this league, the NFL, where it’s a gladiator-type sport, [mental health] is not often talked about.

“I was living in hell for a long time.”

Johnson’s openness regarding his depression — which he said began at Kilgore — inspired many of his teammates and fans across the league. Center Jason Kelce became extremely emotional while he recently discussed Johnson’s impact on those closest to him.

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“Lane Johnson — what he’s openly come back from this year, and to think about the amount of people that he’s given hope to,” Kelce said. “That’s the business we’re in. We’re in the business of hope. What we do every game inspires millions of people.”

Johnson still stands by MTXE. He insists the longtime Kilgore motto will continue to push him through adversity. But he has also evolved from a mental health perspective, and he understands the impact he carries beyond the hash marks on Sunday afternoons.

“He created these opportunities for himself,” Gooden says. “Starting from the bottom of the bottom, that’s what MTXE is about. He’s an inspiration for everybody here. His mental fortitude is generational inspiration.”

The play was dubbed as “East Texas.”

The Eagles repped it meticulously for months during practices and walk-throughs at NovaCare Complex. First-year coach Nick Sirianni had the trick play stored deep in his back pocket, but there was never an instance in his mind where he could properly install it into his weekly game plan.

But during a Week 16 blowout victory over the Giants, Sirianni finally called Johnson’s number.

With the Eagles marching inside the Giants’ 5-yard line and holding a 20-3 lead, Hurts faked a handoff to tailback Boston Scott, while wide receiver DeVonta Smith drew the attention of two defensive backs, which left a chipping Johnson all alone on the right side of the end zone.

Hurts, another East Texas native, floated a quick pass to Johnson, who secured the reception with pristine form. The touchdown marked Johnson’s first career points. He became the first Eagles offensive lineman to catch a touchdown pass since 2010. His touchdown is just one of many memorable moments from this season. Johnson is in the midst of a career year — he hasn’t allowed a single sack over 416 passing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and he’s given up the fewest quarterback hits among all NFL tackles (one).

“I think it’s a testimony of perseverance and obviously being strong,” Hurts said. “Lane knows his teammates have his back. I have his back. Going through the things he went through earlier in the season ... being able to come back and be with us, and be a big part of our football team and our offense.

“I’m happy for him, but I’m happy he’s good, and I’m happy he got in the end zone.”

The team celebration that ensued served as a representation of Johnson’s lasting impact on the franchise. After being mobbed by his teammates, the nine-year veteran leaped into the front row of fans at Lincoln Financial Field, while the entire crowd and home sideline erupted.

During this exact moment, Johnson reflects on his long journey from the dirt roads of Kilgore to the second home he’s created in South Philadelphia.

“In East Texas,” he says, “everybody knows everybody. In that part of the world — football is so serious and so, so special. Kilgore is part of my heart every time I step on the field.”