Calvin Johnson is officially a first-ballot member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining the star-studded class of 2021.
Johnson joins former Michigan great Charles Woodson, quarterback Peyton Manning, receiver Drew Pearson, guard Alan Faneca, safety John Lynch, longtime Steelers scout Bill Nunn, and former Raiders and Seahawks coach Tom Flores in this year’s class.
The man known as “Megatron” played his entire nine-year career for the Lions, holding every significant receiving record the franchise has to offer. Johnson retired at age 30, finishing his career with 731 catches for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. He’s a former six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Johnson was among four first-year finalists this year, joining Manning, Woodson and Jared Allen on the quest to go through this process only once.
Lions great Barry Sanders welcomed Johnson to the Hall of Fame in a video, which showcased David Baker surprising the receiver with word of his induction. Baker, the Hall’s president and CEO, is known for surprising each year’s inductees, not to mention his 6-foot-9 frame. Check out the video below:
While Johnson was playing, no other receiver caught more passes for more yards or averaged more yards per catch. He set the NFL’s single-season record for yards with 1,964 in 2012, turning in one of the most impressive three-year runs in league history at his position. While injuries helped budge him out of the game, Johnson still went out with 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season. That final campaign? Johnson had his knee drained each week just to stay on the field down the stretch in 2015, while also battling ankle issues.
He faced stiff competition at his position for this honor, going up against Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne to make it in 2021. Still, Johnson’s consistent dominance and NFL record-setting season gave him a boost despite his career going only nine seasons.
Related: Calvin Johnson opens up on rift with Lions: ‘It straight up stung’
Johnson is now the 22nd former Lions player to make the Hall of Fame. Alex Karras was inducted in last year’s expanded 2020 class, which was part of the NFL’s centennial celebration. Before Karras, legendary coach and former Lions cornerback Dick LeBeau made it in 2010. Before that, it was tight end Charlie Sanders in 2007, not to mention fellow first-ballot inductee Barry Sanders in 2004.
The wide receiver has made headlines in recent weeks thanks to his HOF bid and rocky relationship with the Lions going under the microscope. After Johnson retired, the franchise came after some of his money, asking for half of his $3.2 million signing bonus to be returned. The Lions could have asked for the entire signing bonus back based on NFL rules, but the damage was already done in Johnson’s eyes. For what it’s worth, the Lions did the same to Sanders when the all-time great running back retired, asking him to return $5.5 million of his $11 million signing bonus. Sanders has been more involved with the franchise in recent years, serving as an advisor on the search for a new head coach and general manager.
“There hasn’t really been too much communication (with Detroit),” Johnson said on a recent appearance on the Huddle And Flow Podcast. “I mean, every time I go on any kind of anything public, you know, I get asked the question. And it’s simple. It’s like, yeah, it’s hard for me to do anything for anyone that takes anything from me, you know? I feel like after everything I did for the organization, (asking for money back) shouldn’t have even been a thought, honestly.”
Related: Calvin Johnson: Lions wanted me to change story about concussion | Alex Karras named Detroit Lions’ representative for 2020 Hall of Fame centennial class
The Detroit Free Press didn’t offer any details but recently said “there’s a chance” Johnson and the team start working on resolving their relationship in the coming months. Sheila Ford Hamp avoided the topic of Johnson’s money during a recent press conference, but the Lions owner flat-out said: “I hope we can repair things with Calvin Johnson.”
“We are 100% behind him for his Hall of Fame ballots and hope he gets it this time,” Ford Hamp said. “He was a great, great player and a terrific person, and we’d love to have him back with us and working with us and helping us with everything.”
This year’s class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was elected through virtual meetings of the board of selectors. The class of 2021 will be introduced as part of a weekly celebration from Aug. 5-9 in Canton.
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