DETROIT — Nearly a decade has passed since Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson abruptly retired from the NFL after the 2015 season at age 30, but on Monday night, the Temple wide receiver fame will earn a permanent place among the greatest players in team history.
Johnson will enter the Pride of the Lions at halftime of Detroit’s homecoming game against the Seattle Seahawks, which honors the brightest stars in team history at Ford Field.
Johnson said his relationship with the team is “definitely growing” and he is excited about the recognition.
For years, Johnson’s relationship with the team deteriorated after he was forced to repay just over $1 million to the franchise upon his retirement following the 2015 season, but he returned to the fold with the Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner, who helped him save the Bonds. .
“It’s really booming,” said Johnson, known as “Megatron” during his career. “We’ve come a long way since I left here and I don’t know how long it took now…eight, nine years ago to where we are today. Efforts have We’ve been deployed on both sides to get us back to this point and I’m just happy to be at the point where I have my kids here and can see the things that I’ve been able to accomplish on the field.
“And it’s exciting for my whole family to be able to see the kids and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s what Dad made.’ It’s cool.”
The Pride of Lions launched in 2009 and Johnson will join 20 other franchise greats, including Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman. Johnson also celebrated his 39th birthday Sunday evening with a prestigious induction ceremony dinner held before the game in the Hall of Legends at Ford Field, attended by Moore and Brown.
When asked, Johnson said he still has no regrets about retiring early.
“The misconception is that I retired at the top of my game. I mean, I retired right when my body was falling apart,” Johnson said. “You’ve all seen me post numbers, but I’ve been posting numbers throughout my career. It’s just at that point that I wasn’t in a position where I was ready to provide the level of work it took for me to get to where I needed to be in the offseason to start a full season because it hurt so much.
“It takes the fun out of the game when you’re running and playing in pain all the time. I mean what you’re saying, yes, I could still go 1,000 yards, it’s not difficult. If I get the ball back.” .
Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83) during his nine-year career, from 2007 to 2015. He also holds Lions franchise records for career receptions ( 731), receiving yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83). ), but Sanders could feel his absence from the Lions Pride event as both sides sought to repair their relationship, following Johnson’s early retirement.
“It was essential. I think it was something that we all hoped for and were happy to see the fences mending and time tends to do that in a lot of ways,” Sanders said in August. “There’s never any question about what Calvin means to Lions fans and this organization. So, from one Lion to another in Calvin, it’s only fitting that he gets this recognition.
“He deserved it. A lot of us felt like something was missing.”
In the current Lions locker room, Johnson is widely respected for his work on the field and for providing mentorship whenever necessary.
“One of the best to ever play catcher, so to have him around, I’m obviously a fan, first and foremost as a kid, but to have him around and ask him questions ” said Lions wide receiver Amon- Ra St Brown. “I would say my game and his are polar opposites, but we still play the same position and we go through the same things, so having him with us is a blessing and an honor and I’m happy that he can do it . will finally get the recognition he deserves.
Johnson says he hopes to bring good luck to the team as the Lions (2-1) unveil their all-black alternate uniforms for the first time on “Monday Night Football.” The team, which is trying to snap a five-game losing streak against Seattle, hasn’t worn a uniform since 2007, when Johnson was on the team.
“He’s one of the best for this program and for this company. He’s one of the best to ever play this game, at this position. Even outside of his position, what he did was always unbelievable,” Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams said. “I just feel like it’s great for him. His accomplishments are undeniable, and I feel like maybe it should have happened a little sooner.”
