Calvin Johnson admits 'it will feel like a slight' if he is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer

Calvin Johnson is eligible for the Hall of Fame, and the former receiver admits he will feel slightly offended if he is not voted in on his first attempt.

"Of course, it will feel like a slight, I guess, if you don’t get in the first time and you’re up there, you’re a finalist," Johnson said. "I can’t say that it wouldn’t, because we’re human, we’re emotional. But it’ll happen. I confidently feel like it’ll happen. Will it happen first time? That would be awesome. Get it out of the way. Why not?"

Johnson is a fascinating case study for the Hall of Fame due to his prolific but short NFL career. During his time in the league, Johnson was one of the most dominant receivers in NFL history. He had at least 1,000 yards receiving in seven out of his nine seasons with the Detroit Lions, including an NFL-record 1,964 receiving yards in 2012. He was a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler and was widely considered the best receiver in the league throughout the majority of his career.

But the issue that some voters may have with Johnson is the length of his career, as he was in the NFL for less than a decade and his decision to retire at age 30 hurts his case from a statistical perspective. Johnson currently ranks 47th all-time in career receptions and 32nd in all-time receiving yards. 

Was Johnson's talent and production enough to outweigh the brevity of his career and earn him a spot in Canton? Only time will tell but even if he does not make it in his first try, Johnson will still have plenty more opportunities to become a Hall of Famer.