Calvin Johnson’s dominant career left so many good memories for the Detroit Lions and NFL fans. The wide receiver was one of the best players of his generation, putting up a show week in and week out with Matthew Stafford at Ford Field.
Johnson’s 2012 season was one for the books. The Georgia Tech product was targeted 205 times, catching 122 passes for 1,964 yards (all career-highs), setting the single-season record for receiving yards in NFL history.
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Thirteen years later, the record still stands, and Johnson thinks it’s time for somebody else to break it. During a recent conversation with Kevin Clark on “This Is Football,” Johnson explained why he thought the record would be gone by now.
“I was expecting more of an explosion as far as what we see for yards per season. And just my record, for instance, I didn’t expect that to still be standing at this point,” Johnson said. “One, they added a game and two, you can’t really touch the receiver nowadays. So, I expected that thing to be gone a couple years ago when guys were getting close, but it still hasn’t fallen.”
Additionally, he dropped a couple of names that could eclipse his record in the future, naming established stars and even a rookie making his way through the elite of the league.
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“Ja’Marr Chase has a chance if his quarterback is healthy,” Johnson said. “Justin Jefferson. I thought Tyreek (Hill) would have a chance, but I don’t know after his injury. Cause he was there a couple years where he was (1,700), (1,800), he might’ve even hit (1,900). I don’t know right now — oh, what’s the young kid in Tampa? I like this kid (Emeka Egbuka), I’m keeping my radar on him. He could be really good. And there’s definitely young guys I’m leaving out.”
Calvin Johnson is stunned his single-season yards mark still stands.
"They added a game and you can't really touch the receiver nowadays. I expected that thing to be gone a couple years ago."
WHO might break it one day? He has candidates: Chase, Jefferson, Egbuka among others. pic.twitter.com/6M9YzHyz4s
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) November 13, 2025
Johnson had a couple of electrifying players on that list. Some have flirted with the record, but different reasons stopped them from making history.
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That 2012 season was bittersweet for Lions fans. While they cheered up Johnson for his heroics, the team barely won four games. They ended the season on an eight-game losing streak, while Johnson posted 1,167 yards, including two games with over 200 yards.
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