 Johnson in 2024 | |||||||||
| No. 81 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 29, 1985 Newnan, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 237 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia) | ||||||||
| College: | Georgia Tech (2004–2006) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2007 / round: 1 / pick: 2 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Calvin Johnson Jr. (born September 29, 1985) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons with the Detroit Lions. Nicknamed "Megatron" after the Transformers character of the same name, he is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.[1] He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as a junior, and was selected by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
Johnson was noted for having a rare combination of size (6 ft 5 in and 239 lbs), catching ability, speed (40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds), strength, leaping ability,[2][3] and body control. In 2012, he set the NFL season record for receiving yards.[4][5] Johnson is also tied with Michael Irvin for 100-yard games in a season,[6] tied with Adam Thielen for consecutive 100-yard games, and holds the record for consecutive games with 10 or more receptions. He appeared in six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2010 to 2015 and received three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections from 2011 to 2013.
While still regarded as being in his prime, Johnson retired after the 2015 season, citing a loss of passion for the game due to health concerns and the Lions' lack of overall success during his tenure. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
- ^ Harrison, Elliot (March 8, 2016). "Ten best receivers of all time". NFL.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Clayton, John (February 26, 2007). "Johnson impresses at combine". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ "Calvin Johnson's Georgia Tech profile". RamblinWreck.com. Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (December 23, 2012). "Jerry Rice's single-season record falls to Calvin Johnson". Pro Football Talk. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ "NFL Receiving Yards Single-Season Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (December 23, 2012). "Calvin Johnson breaks NFL record for consecutive 100-yard games". Pro Football Talk. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.