Fansided

5 NFL players who retired too soon

By Patrick Morgan

Nov 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) adjusts his helmet during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) adjusts his helmet during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 27: Calvin Johnson (81) of the Detroit Lions enters the field to face the Denver Broncos during the first half of play at Ford Field. The Detroit Lions hosted the Denver Broncos in NFL week 3 action on Sunday, September 27, 2015. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 27: Calvin Johnson (81) of the Detroit Lions enters the field to face the Denver Broncos during the first half of play at Ford Field. The Detroit Lions hosted the Denver Broncos in NFL week 3 action on Sunday, September 27, 2015. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Calvin Johnson is another bittersweet addition to the list of NFL greats who retired far too soon in their careers.

With news breaking Sunday that 2015 was indeed Calvin Johnson’s last season in the NFL, fans of football everywhere are mourning the retirement of one of the game’s greatest to play the wide receiver position. Despite still being in his prime at 30 and after only nine seasons in the league, Johnson reportedly has decided to call it a career. He will go down as the Detroit Lions‘ all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Nicknamed “Megatron” by a former Lions teammate, the only knock on Johnson’s Hall of Fame career will be his lack of postseason success – a direct result of playing for a Detroit franchise that has only made the playoffs twice in the past 15 years, losing both times in the Wild Card round. While there are certainly many reasons behind Johnson’s retirement, the losing culture of the organization has to be one of the most predominant factors in his decision.

It’s another crippling blow to a Lions fanbase that has already suffered through watching one of their team’s greatest legends walk away from the game prematurely. Given Megatron’s stellar albeit short career, he’s actually the perfect place to start when considering some of the NFL’s brightest stars who retired too soon.

Next: 5. Calvin Johnson

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