Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson named to 2021 Hall of Fame class

In 2007, the Detroit Lions made a wide receiver out of Georgia Tech the second overall selection in the first round of the NFL draft. 15 years later and that player has been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On Saturday night, the NFL announced that former Lions’ wideout, Calvin Johnson, has been named to the Hall of Fame’s 2021 class at the ripe old age of 35.

The player lovingly nicknamed ‘Megatron’ racked up an incredible 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in a short nine-year career with the Lions. Johnson surprisingly announced his retirement in 2016 at the age of 30 in the prime of his career.

In his final season, Johnson would record 88 catches for 1,214 yards, nine scores and would be elected to his sixth-straight Pro Bowl. His best season came in 2012 when he posted 122 receptions for 1,964 yards and five touchdowns.

Despite Johnson’s success on the field, he could never lift the Lions to playoff success alone. During his nine-year run, Detroit would post a winning record only two times. In fact, in his second season, the Lions would go 0-16. Yet the fact that Johnson played in only two postseason games and was still inducted into the Hall of Fame spotlights his tremendous individual talent.

Due to his shortened career and lack of any postseason success, there were concerns Johnson would not be elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Yet, his complete dominance while he played in the league ultimately proved impossible to ignore.

Calvin Johnson will now enter the Hall of Fame, joining 21 other former members of the Detroit Lions and the Portsmouth Spartans to be inducted. That exclusive membership includes legendary names like Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Dick Lane, Charlie Sanders. Joe Schmidt, Lem Barney, and Alex Karras who was just inducted into the 2020 class.