Lions great Calvin Johnson. Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK

Calvin Johnson expects someone to break his receiving record soon

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jun 11, 2024 6:21 PM ET

It’s been 12 years since Calvin Johnson set the NFL record for single-season receiving yards.

And while five players have come close to eclipsing his 1,964-yard mark since then, only Cooper Kupp has gotten within real striking distance (1,947 yards). However, the six-time Pro Bowler feels it’s a matter of when, not if his record will be broken, and he’s OK with that.

“I mean, it's bound to fall at some point the way it's going, so it is what it is,” Johnson said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I held it down, I don't know even know how long, over a decade now.”

During Johnson’s record-setting 2012 season, he averaged 16.1 yards per reception and 122.8 yards per game, and he did it in just 16 games. Had Johnson played in today’s game, he would have had 2,087 receiving yards over a 17-game season.

Calvin Johnson Jr. 2012 season was one for the ages.

1,964 Receiving Yards (NFL record)pic.twitter.com/KLAXxLBj5p
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) May 28, 2024

Only three players have ever averaged more receiving yards per game than Johnson — Wes Chandler in 1982 (129), Charley Hennigan in 1961 (124.7) and Elroy Hirsch in 1951 (124.6). All three players played fewer games, which is why none surpassed Johnson’s single-season yards record.

For a receiver to break Johnson’s record, they’d need to average 115.5 receiving yards per game without missing any time due to injury.

There have been several strong attempts at catching Johnson.

Kupp came the closest just three years ago. Julio Jones came within 93 yards in 2015 with the Atlanta Falcons. Justin Jefferson (1,809) in 2022, and Tyreek Hill (1,799) and CeeDee Lamb (1,749) in 2023 are the most recent instances of knocking on the door of the record.

Johnson believes it won’t be long before there’s a new record holder with WRs having an extra regular-season game in today’s pass-heavy NFL.

“They want more offense, man, so at some point (it's bound to happen),” Johnson added. “You got to be healthy. You got to play really a full 17 now. … If you can play 17, guys have put up numbers, you're going to put up numbers. That 17, you get that extra game to put another 150 or 200 (yards).”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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