Why did Calvin Johnson retire?

Between 2007 and 2015, Calvin Johnson was among the top receivers in the NFL. He was one of the Detroit Lions' most reliable players in team history. He provided them with the spectacular playmaking presence they have missed since Barry Sanders left the team.

Johnson said that his decision to leave the NFL after nine years was influenced by the team's inability to challenge for honors.

The wideout said via ESPN:

"My agreement with Detroit bound me, and they informed me that they would not sever it, forcing me to return to them. At the time, I didn't think they had a chance to win a Super Bowl, and for the effort I was making, it wasn't worthwhile to keep pounding my head against a brick wall in vain. It is the height of insanity."

Before anybody else, Calvin Johnson was aware that the 2015-16 season would be his last.

Johnson, who played for the Detroit Lions for the entirety of his nine-year stint, traveled to Georgia in the offseason to talk to his dad about his intentions. The wideout outlined why he believed it was time to stop playing the game:

"They are destroying the team. My entire body hurts. My range of motion isn't what it once was. I'm stuck inside and can't dig like I used to. I can't seem to get it. I didn't love it because I was hurting all the time."

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Calvin Johnson has a unique legacy

Calvin Johnson had a wonderful nine years in the NFL. At 6-foot-5 and weighing 237 pounds, Johnson frequently overpowered defensive backs. He earned six Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro team selections, and a position on the All-Decade team for 2010.

The player, also known as 'Megatron', was chosen for his sixth-straight Pro Bowl during his last season in the league. He recorded 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns.

He retired as the all-time leading receiver for the Lions, having twice led the league in receiving yards and racked up 1,964 receiving yards in 2012.

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More about Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson was picked in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions after playing college football for Georgia Tech. In college, he earned first-team All-American accolades twice. He is understandably recognized as one of the best wideouts in NFL history.

Johnson's unique mix of stature, pace, power, body control, catching skill, and jumping ability made him next to impossible to shut down. He set the record for receiving yards in a single season in 2012.

It's a pity that the iconic receiver prematurely called it quits on his NFL career. Having him around for a few more years would've been spectacular.