Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson surprised many when he retired following the 2015 season. Only 30 years old at the time, Johnson was coming off a campaign that saw him put up over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns.
Why was Johnson retiring in the prime of his career? The nine-year vet indicated just recently that it had more to do with the toll football was taking on him physically (more on that here).
Now, well over a year removed from his retirement, Johnson is looking back on the end of his career with the Lions. And he doesn’t appear to be too happy with the organization.
“I don’t even like to talk Lions too much just because the way our relationship ended. If they see me around here, we’ll see. But hey, I don’t know,” Johnson said recently, via the Detroit Free Press. “I just didn’t feel like I was treated the way I should have been treated on the way out. That’s all. I mean, it’s all good. I’m not tripping. I don’t feel any kind of way, just hey, that’s what they did. Hey, it is what is.”
As one of the greatest players in Lions franchise history, that’s an unfortunate statement for Johnson to make.
We know full well that the Lions were pining for a decision from Johnson leading up to free agency last March. The team simply needed to figure out what to do at receiver if Johnson decided to retire, as he ultimately would.
Though, there’s no telling one way or another whether that has played a role in Johnson’s attitude relating to the Lions’ organization since his retirement.
Johnson ended his career as the team’s all-time leader in receptions (731), receiving yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83).