Seth Vigdor
We knew that that this was a possibility when rumors started spreading about a month ago. However, when word started to spread that Calvin Johnson might retire, we all thought that after some time, he’d decide to keep on playing. Well it looks like Calvin Johnson is ready to call it a career.
Per Adam Schefter, he told the Lions that he plans to retire. Wow! I didn’t think it would go down this way this year.
Calvin Johnson told Lions he plans to retire. Full story on ESPN:https://t.co/Syqr41b6pR https://t.co/iGoFexUkE2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2016
After a few weeks of thinking it over Johnson has apparently made a final call. He had an amazing career on a somewhat shitty team.
Per ESPN:
At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Johnson shared his thought process with head coach Jim Caldwell, who urged the wideout to take his time with the decision. After tending to ankle issues throughout his career — but more specifically over the past two campaigns — Johnson has also dealt with increased general soreness in his body. In a statement made through the Lions’ organization on Jan. 6, he stated that the call would be confirmed, one way or another, in the “not-too-distant future,” but he required less than a month to uphold his desire. Once he files the proper paperwork, he’ll conclude his career with 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in 135 games, including the second-most receiving yards per game (86.1) of any player in NFL history.
While the cynic in me says he makes his way back to the league at some point (maybe with a New England Patriots team), I’m still sad to see him go. Perhaps if the Lions were better, this may have played out differently.
If this is truly the end of the road, Megatron will be missed.