Why is Calvin Johnson retiring in his prime?

Why is Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson retiring in his prime?

On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that wide receiver Calvin Johnson plans on retiring. The news follows a recent report that had Johnson mulling retirement after nine seasons in the NFL.

Schefter’s comments matched the report from the Detroit Free Press, which stated that Calvin was content with everything that he done in the league and that he was banged up from the physical toll of the game.

During his career with the Lions, Johnson had multiple seasons where he was targeted over 150 times on passing plays and even had one incredible season where he was targeted over 200 times. With that many targets over his career, Johnson absorbed a ton of brutal hits.

There’s been a growing trend of players retiring from the NFL in the midst of their primes, of which Johnson will be the next in line to when he makes things official. Last season, multiple members of the San Francisco 49ers retired early, including star linebacker Patrick Willis.

With the increased concussion totals in the league and the violent hits, many players have put their futures ahead of the fame and fortune that comes playing in the NFL. While Johnson is just 31, he’s taken physical abuse on the field that will surely last a lifetime.

Those that know him don’t seem shocked and know that it isn’t about the money to Johnson, who has made $115 million over his career. He was one of the best to ever lace up cleats at the wide receiver position and will certainly be in the Hall of Fame discussion.

He was quick, physical and powerful on the field, which is a rare combination of the three needed talents to be a successful wide receiver at the NFL level. He could go up and make any catch and more importantly, he stayed loyal to the Lions through good times and bad.

He’s accomplished a ton and he’s ready to call it a career.