The Toll of Greatness: Calvin Johnson Opens Up on Retirement and the Modern NFL

Johnson painted a stark picture of the physical toll his career took, which was a primary factor in his retirement. He described a daily routine defined by pain and preparation, even for the most mundane tasks.

“I’d wake up in the morning drag my feet across the floor to the bathroom,” Johnson recounted. “Probably shower just to get my body warmed up but literally drag my feet flat because my ankles were always swollen so I really couldn’t bend them until I get in.”

For Johnson, simply getting his body ready to function was a monumental effort. “It really takes a whole day working all the way up to practice just being able to get your body good to a point where it’s ready to go,” he explained. This constant peak-level preparation was essential, but exhausting. “If you try to get me out on that field an hour earlier? Nah. You’re not getting nothing out of me… because your body, it needs its time. It takes time.”

The Evolution of Practice

Comparing his playing days to the current NFL, Johnson believes that changes in practice intensity could lead to longer careers for today’s players. During his time in Detroit, the culture under previous regimes was focused on sheer effort. “We went hard in Detroit, you know? When we came to Detroit, it was tough here. You HAD to go hard. That was the coach’s mentality… just work harder; not necessarily smarter, but work hard,” he recalled.

The current approach, however, prioritizes player longevity and smart training. “Now they’re working smart. Not to say that they’re not working hard but they don’t have as many work days that where they’re grinding and stocking their feet in the dirt and hitting the ground,” Johnson observed. He believes this shift is extending careers: “I think that adds days and if not years to people’s careers when you’re not out there grinding all the time on the football field.”

Supporting the Lions’ New Era and Coach Campbell

Johnson expressed enthusiasm for the current direction of the Lions, largely due to the leadership of Head Coach Dan Campbell, with whom Johnson played early in his career.

“It would be everything especially now that they got Coach Dan [Campbell],” Johnson said of the idea of the Lions rewriting history. He recalled Campbell as a teammate: “He was a great pro and he was a great example on how to put the work in.”

Johnson lauded Campbell’s journey and authentic leadership style, which he believes resonates deeply with the players. “I sat and talked to him a couple weeks ago and I asked him, ‘Did you ever see yourself becoming a head coach?’ He said, ‘Naw man. It’s just the way that the cards were played, but I’m embracing it.’… He’s totally embracing it; the guys love him and it’s NOTHING better than a player/coach, man. Especially a player/ head coach.”

On his own retirement compared to current free agent situations like Saquon Barkley’s, Johnson noted a key difference: “I didn’t see any real parallel because my situation was a little different being that my situation was over and done with. His situation is still ongoing because they need him. The Lions really didn’t need me… but they need Saquon if they want to go to the places that they want to go.”

Praising Today’s Elite

Beyond Detroit, Johnson keeps a close eye on the league, particularly the Philadelphia Eagles, calling them “my team,” a connection stemming from his relationship with cornerback Darius Slay. He singles out Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for his character and resilience.

“I’m a big fan of Jalen Hurts. I love watching him and how his career back in Alabama when he got sacked or benched and STILL came back to where he is today and that right there says a lot to me about that man’s character,” Johnson stated. “He just kept his head down and he kept on marching.”

Of course, the greatness of Patrick Mahomes is not lost on Megatron. “[Laughing] Man! I mean, Mahomes is ridiculous. He’s going to get you the ball any which way. He might not be even looking at you and he’s going to get you the ball!” Johnson joked, before concluding: “I envy Travis Kelce. I put it to you like that.”

Looking back at his own career, Johnson revealed that he incorporated elements from his peers, such as the playmaking mindset of Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, and the consistency of receivers like Marvin Harrison and Tim Brown. He was dedicated to being durable and ready, saying, “I kind of wanted to bring some of the things that they had in their game to my game. Like, I was able to do that and that ultimately led me to having success.”