5 biggest highlights in Calvin Johnson’s career (Video)

5. Calvin Johnson has a rule named after him

It’s very rare when a play that goes the other way is a highlight for a player. However, the play that came to be known as the “Calvin Johnson rule” is one that forever transcended the game of football and it’s part of the reason that the league has such a tough time deciding what is and what’s not a catch in the league.

It all happened in 2010. The Detroit Lions were on the road against the Chicago Bears and the two teams that had a tight battle that saw the Lions with a chance to take the lead and the win late in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Shaun Hill heaved up a pass for Johnson in the end zone and Johnson made an incredible leaping grab to bring the pass down on the play. Johnson and the Lions would run around the field celebrating, before the refs overturned the call on the field.

As Johnson came down with the ball, he put it down on the ground as he got excited to get up and celebrate. The refs ruled that he didn’t “complete the process of the catch” and ever since then, that phrase has burned in the minds of football fans everywhere.

The play was so absurd that Johnson physically transcended the way the game was played from there on and caused a rule to be established that is still heavily scrutinized to this day.

Next: 4. Calvin Johnson dominates Thanksgiving