The Detroit Lions are a franchise with not many great things to look back on. So, when they do have a memorable player or have a memorable season, it is something that sits in the hearts and minds of Lions fans forever.
Now, one all-time great Lions player will receive an overdue honor from the franchise during the team’s Week 4 home game. Who is the player? What is the honor? Read below to find out more.
Calvin Johnson to Be Inducted Into Pride of the Lions
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the all-time great Lions WR Calvin “Megatron” Johnson will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions. The induction will take place during the Lions’ home game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 30th (Monday Night Football). He will be the 21st player in franchise history to be inducted into this exclusive club.
Career With Detroit Lions
So, what did Calvin Johnson do with the Detroit Lions that was so memorable? Believe it or not, he only played in the NFL for nine seasons. However, all of those seasons were with the Lions and it was a very memorable stretch in franchise history.
For starters, Johnson had 83 career touchdown receptions. On top of this, he had 11,619 receiving yards and 731 receptions.
Johnson played from 2007 to 2015, with his most notable season coming in 2012. During that season, Johnson set an NFL record that still stands today. That record was the most receiving yards in a single season (1,964).
What makes this more impressive is that the NFL still had a 16-game schedule back then. It is still the closest any player has come to having 2,000 receiving yards in one season.
Lack of Playoff Success
Individually, Calvin Johnson had a historic career. Unfortunately, that did not translate to team success during his time with the Detroit Lions. During his nine years with Detroit, the Lions made the playoffs just three times. They lost in the wild card round during every playoff appearance in that stretch.
This makes the current Lions team all the more special. Last year, they won two home playoff games before suffering a heartbreaking loss in the NFC Championship to the San Francisco 49ers. However, it was the first time the Lions even won a playoff game since 1991. Now, Johnson’s induction will show appreciation of the past while looking towards the future.