Comparing Calvin Johnson to Jerry Rice

This is sure to be a hot button topic for the next few weeks. The comparison between Calvin Johnson and Jerry Rice always has been and likely always will be.

Back in July before the season started, I put together a piece that compared Calvin Johnson to the current crop of receivers in the NFL, and the receivers that are considered the greatest of all time. What I found at the time was a bit surprising. Look, let’s just get it out of the way right here and now. Jerry Rice is the greatest of all time. I won’t dispute that ever in my lifetime and I’m almost sure of that. When you look at what Rice was able to accomplish in his 21 year career, it really is quite staggering. Let’s take a look at his overall stats.

Seriously how could anyone ever beat that? The answer is nobody ever will. Let me once again say that Jerry Rice is best ever. Today I am not going to try to tell you that Calvin Johnson is better. I’m not delusional. What I want to do today is merely show the world that these two aren’t as far off from each other as you think. If anything I’m making the argument that Johnson is the second or even third greatest receiver to ever step on the field. I don’t think that’s too much to say. Let’s jump into it.

This argument is purely based on serving size. When you look at the nine year career of Calvin Johnson against the 21 year career of Jerry Rice, It’s pretty easy to walk away with the idea that Calvin was just alright. But when you judge Jerry Rice on the first nine years of his career, years that are widely believed to be the best of his career, you get a different look at things. Let’s look at Jerry’s first nine years right now.

That’s pretty dang impressive. Especially when you look at those touchdown totals. I mean 13.11 touchdowns per season is ridiculous in any time frame let alone nine years. In that time Rice also went to eight Pro Bowls and was an eight time All-Pro. Once again, just so everybody is up to speed. I’m not saying Calvin is better. Jerry is the greatest of all time. But let’s take a look at where Calvin ended his career at nine years.

Does this change your perception of Calvin Johnson at all? With touchdowns out of the picture, Calvin is right in line with Rice in every category. One thing I think is important to note here is that Rice did this with Joe Montana and Steve Young. Calvin did this with Jon Kitna, J.T. O’Sullivan, Daunte Culpepper, Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton, Drew Henson, Sean Hill and then finally Matthew Stafford for the final five years of his career. I think even Jerry Rice would have had a hard time getting into a rhythm with eight different quarterbacks in the first four yeas of his career.

As far as productivity goes, we can see that there are a lot of similarities. As far as entertainment goes, we unequivocally know that there are tons of similarities. If you got to witness either of these guys play, you were lucky. What will always separate these two will be that Jerry Rice has won the big one multiple times. Calvin, much like so many others will end his storied career with no gold to show for it.

Now I want to take you on a quick unadvertised bonus trip to Rand University.

Calvin Johnson: A Career Retrospective

When you talk Jerry Rice, the other name that always comes up is Randy Moss. This is significant in this argument because if there were every a physical comparison to Calvin, it’s Randy Moss. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Anyways let’s look at Moss after nine years.

Same story, different player. Calvin is right in line with Moss in every category except touchdowns. It’s actually a bit shocking to see that Calvin didn’t score nearly as much as it may have seemed.

In closing I’ll say once again, Jerry is the greatest. Moss is right behind him and Calvin is third. I think that’s fair. At the end of the day the most important thing to consider is that these three guys were special and the very best of their era. I’m willing to bet this isn’t the last time a receiver is compared to Moss and Rice. It’s n argument that will go on forever. But it’s probably safe to say that receivers will also get compared to Calvin Johnson now as well.