Calvin Johnson retired after the 2015 season, and at the time the main reason cited was the beating his body had taken over the years -- that he simply didn't want to go through the physical punishment anymore. Apparently the emotional strain of playing for the Lions also wore on him.
That's what he said in a recent interview, anyway. "I was stuck in my contract with Detroit, and they told me, they would not release my contract, so I would have to come back to them. I didn't see the chance for them to win a Super Bowl at the time, and for the work I was putting in, it wasn't worth my time to keep on beating my head against the wall and not going anywhere."
It's a little bit shocking: a young superstar walking away from the NFL while still relatively healthy and playing at an elite level? Of course another example of this that leaps to mind also used to play for the Lions: Barry Sanders.
Assuming this story doesn't lead to Johnson considering a comeback, he retired as one of the very best to ever play the position. In terms of yards per game, for example, the only two players better than him in the history of the league (3-plus seasons) are current players, whose averages may well decline. One has just three years of work under his belt. We'll see if they keep their slight lead on Johnson.
| RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME, ALL-TIME | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | YPG | Years |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 96.3 | 2011-2016 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 95.9 | 2014-2016 |
| Calvin Johnson, Det. | 86.1 | 2007-2015 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 83.0 | 2011-2016 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 82.9 | 2010-2016 |
| Josh Gordon, Cle. | 78.7 | 2012-2014 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 77.8 | 2014-2016 |
| Torry Holt, 2TM | 77.4 | 1999-2009 |
| Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 76.7 | 1996-2008 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 76.3 | 2010-2016 |
| Jerry Rice, 3TM | 75.6 | 1985-2004 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 75.1 | 2012-2016 |
| Lance Alworth, 2TM | 74.9 | 1962-1972 |
| Michael Irvin, Dall. | 74.9 | 1988-1999 |
| Andre Johnson, 3TM | 73.5 | 2003-2016 |
| Terrell Owens, 5TM | 72.8 | 1996-2010 |
| Sterling Sharpe, G.B. | 72.6 | 1988-1994 |
| Brandon Marshall, 4TM | 72.2 | 2006-2016 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 72.2 | 2012-2016 |
| Charley Hennigan, Hou. | 71.8 | 1960-1966 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 71.2 | 2004-2016 |
| Randy Moss, 5TM | 70.1 | 1998-2012 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 70.1 | 2013-2016 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 69.5 | 2015-2016 |
| DeSean Jackson, 2TM | 69.4 | 2008-2016 |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69.3 | 2010-2016 |
| Jimmy Smith, 2TM | 69.0 | 1992-2005 |
| Don Hutson, G.B. | 68.9 | 1935-1945 |
| Keenan Allen, S.D. | 68.9 | 2013-2016 |
| Art Powell, 5TM | 68.8 | 1959-1968 |
--Andy Richardson