How Long Did Calvin Johnson Play In The NFL?

Calvin Johnson played nine seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

Introduction

Calvin Johnson, Jr. (born September 29, 1985), nicknamed “Megatron”, is a retired American football wide receiver. He played his entire career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). A consensus All-American at Georgia Tech, Johnson was drafted by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He led the league in receiving yards for four seasons between 2010 and 2013, becoming the first and only receiver in NFL history to do so.

Early Life and College Career

Calvin Johnson was born on September 29, 1985, in Newnan, Georgia. He played football and basketball in high school, and was recruited by many college programs for both sports. Johnson ultimately decided to play football for Georgia Tech, where he became one of the most successful receivers in school history. He left Tech after his junior season to enter the 2007 NFL Draft, where he was selected second overall by the Detroit Lions.

NFL Career

Calvin Johnson played nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Detroit Lions. He was drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft and spent his entire career with the team.

Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL in 2016, after nine seasons in the league. He finishes his career with 11,619 receiving yards, which ranks him 18th all-time in NFL history.

Retirement

It was announced on Tuesday that Calvin Johnson, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, is retiring from the NFL. In 8 seasons, Johnson amassed 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns, good for 7th all time in receiving yards and 8th in touchdowns. He is widely considered one of the best receivers in NFL history.

Johnson’s retirement comes as a surprise to many, as he is only 30 years old and still in the prime of his career. He dealt with a number of injuries over the past few seasons, including a lingering ankle injury that limited him to just 5 games in 2014. Despite this, he still managed to rack up 1,214 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2015.

It is not yet known what Johnson plans to do now that he has retired from the NFL. He has said that he wants to spend more time with his family and friends, and that he plans on staying involved with the game of football in some capacity.

Personal Life

In 2007, Calvin Johnson married his long-time girlfriend, Brittney McNorton. In 2011, the couple had their first child, Calvin Jr. On March 8, 2012, the Detroit Lions announced that Calvin and Brittney were expecting twins. On May 7, 2012 twin girls were born, Jada and Tiana Johnson. Calvin has three children altogether. All of his children’s names begin with the letter “C”.

In early 2010, Calvin started the Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation during his time with the Detroit Lions. The Foundation’s goal is to “assist youth in achieving their highest potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” The Foundation provides support to organizations that work with at-risk youth in southwest Atlanta and inner-city Detroit.

Legacy

Calvin Johnson is a retired American football wide receiver. He played his entire career for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Johnson was a first-team All-Pro choice three times. He officially announced his retirement from the NFL on March 8, 2016. In 2010, he became the fasted player to reach 5,000 receiving yards in an NFL career. In 2012, he also broke Jerry Rice’s single season record for receiving yards with 1,964 yards.