diff --git a/changelog/unreleased/SOLR-18417-deprecate-pingrequesthandler.yml b/changelog/unreleased/SOLR-18417-deprecate-pingrequesthandler.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fb82ab8f6d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/unreleased/SOLR-18417-deprecate-pingrequesthandler.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+type: deprecated
+title: Deprecate PingRequestHandler (the "/admin/ping" endpoint), SolrPing, SolrPingResponse, and SolrClient.ping()/ping(String).
+authors:
+  - name: Jason Gerlowski
+links:
+  - name: SOLR-18417
+    url: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SOLR-18417
diff --git a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/PingRequestHandler.java b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/PingRequestHandler.java
index f7eaa97db78..ee49eed153d 100644
--- a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/PingRequestHandler.java
+++ b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/PingRequestHandler.java
@@ -105,8 +105,12 @@
  *       healthcheck file exists ("<code>enabled</code>") or not ("<code>disabled</code>")
  * </ul>
  *
+ * @deprecated This handler is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. For load balancer
+ *     or orchestration health checks, use {@link org.apache.solr.handler.admin.HealthCheckHandler}
+ *     instead. instead.
  * @since solr 1.3
  */
+@Deprecated(since = "10.1")
 public class PingRequestHandler extends RequestHandlerBase implements SolrCoreAware {
   private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(MethodHandles.lookup().lookupClass());
 
diff --git a/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/configuration-guide/pages/implicit-requesthandlers.adoc b/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/configuration-guide/pages/implicit-requesthandlers.adoc
index 005742a7cec..6adff4771b7 100644
--- a/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/configuration-guide/pages/implicit-requesthandlers.adoc
+++ b/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/configuration-guide/pages/implicit-requesthandlers.adoc
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ This handler must have a collection name in the path to the endpoint.
 Ping:: Health check.
 This handler must have a collection name in the path to the endpoint.
 +
+CAUTION: `PingRequestHandler` is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Use the `Health` endpoint below instead.
++
 *Documentation*: xref:deployment-guide:ping.adoc[]
 +
 [cols="3*.",frame=none,grid=cols,options="header"]
diff --git a/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/deployment-guide/pages/ping.adoc b/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/deployment-guide/pages/ping.adoc
index 169fb97e9ab..558dddac292 100644
--- a/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/deployment-guide/pages/ping.adoc
+++ b/solr/solr-ref-guide/modules/deployment-guide/pages/ping.adoc
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
 // specific language governing permissions and limitations
 // under the License.
 
+[WARNING]
+====
+The `/admin/ping` endpoint (`PingRequestHandler`) is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
+For load balancer or orchestration health checks, use the `solr/admin/info/health` (v1) or `api/node/health` (v2) endpoint, documented in the "Health" section of xref:configuration-guide:implicit-requesthandlers.adoc[], instead.
+====
+
 Choosing Ping under a core name issues a `ping` request to check whether the core is up and responding to requests.
 
 .Ping Option in Core Dropdown
diff --git a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/SolrClient.java b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/SolrClient.java
index 5d54d12155a..fbc5ef6df2b 100644
--- a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/SolrClient.java
+++ b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/SolrClient.java
@@ -895,7 +895,9 @@ public UpdateResponse deleteByQuery(String query, int commitWithinMs)
    *     response from the server
    * @throws IOException If there is a low-level I/O error.
    * @throws SolrServerException if there is an error on the server
+   * @deprecated This method is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
    */
+  @Deprecated(since = "10.1")
   public SolrPingResponse ping(String collection) throws SolrServerException, IOException {
     return new SolrPing().process(this, collection);
   }
@@ -907,7 +909,9 @@ public SolrPingResponse ping(String collection) throws SolrServerException, IOEx
    *     response from the server
    * @throws IOException If there is a low-level I/O error.
    * @throws SolrServerException if there is an error on the server
+   * @deprecated This method is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
    */
+  @Deprecated(since = "10.1")
   public SolrPingResponse ping() throws SolrServerException, IOException {
     return new SolrPing().process(this, null);
   }
diff --git a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/request/SolrPing.java b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/request/SolrPing.java
index 2b9f9824802..a08d9c89ec1 100644
--- a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/request/SolrPing.java
+++ b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/request/SolrPing.java
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@
  * org.apache.solr.client.solrj.SolrClient}. To use this class, the solrconfig.xml for the relevant
  * core must include the request handler for <code>/admin/ping</code>.
  *
+ * @deprecated <code>PingRequestHandler</code> (the <code>/admin/ping</code> endpoint) is deprecated
+ *     and will be removed in a future release. Use {@link HealthCheckRequest} instead.
  * @since solr 1.3
  */
+@Deprecated(since = "10.1")
 public class SolrPing extends CollectionRequiringSolrRequest<SolrPingResponse> {
 
   /** serialVersionUID. */
diff --git a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/response/SolrPingResponse.java b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/response/SolrPingResponse.java
index da124f13594..6c0d8940712 100644
--- a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/response/SolrPingResponse.java
+++ b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/client/solrj/response/SolrPingResponse.java
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 package org.apache.solr.client.solrj.response;
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated This class is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
  * @since solr 1.3
  */
+@Deprecated(since = "10.1")
 public class SolrPingResponse extends SolrResponseBase {
   // nothing special now...
 }
diff --git a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/CommonParams.java b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/CommonParams.java
index 3bed47aac57..31ad4a1e5d7 100644
--- a/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/CommonParams.java
+++ b/solr/solrj/src/java/org/apache/solr/common/params/CommonParams.java
@@ -75,7 +75,13 @@ public interface CommonParams {
   String INDENT = "indent";
 
   // SOLR-4228 start
-  /** handler value for SolrPing */
+  /**
+   * handler value for SolrPing
+   *
+   * @deprecated <code>PingRequestHandler</code> (the <code>/admin/ping</code> endpoint) is
+   *     deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
+   */
+  @Deprecated(since = "10.1")
   String PING_HANDLER = "/admin/ping";
 
   /** "action" parameter for SolrPing */