Ranking the top 25 wide receivers in NFL history..
6. Calvin Johnson
Drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in 2007 out of Georgia Tech, where he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver with 178 catches and 28 touchdowns, Johnson, nicknamed “Megatron,” quickly became a dominant force despite playing on rebuilding teams.
Over nine seasons with the Lions (2007-2015), Johnson shattered records, earning six straight Pro Bowls (2010-2015) and three First-Team All-Pro nods (2011-2013). His 2011 season featured 96 receptions for 1,681 yards (league-leading) and 16 TDs, helping end a 12-year playoff drought.
In 2012, he set the single-season receiving yards record with 1,964 on 122 catches, including a 329-yard game against Dallas—the most in regulation history. He followed in 2013 with 84 receptions for 1,492 yards and 12 TDs.
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Johnson reached 10,000 yards in a record 115 games and 11,000 in 127, holding Lions marks for career receptions (731), yards (11,619) and TDs (83). He led the NFL in receiving yards twice (2011-2012) and had 46 100-yard games.
Johnson’s career totals: 731 receptions, 11,619 yards (15.9 average) and 83 touchdowns over 135 games, plus postseason stats of 17 catches for 296 yards and two TDs in two games. He was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
Johnson’s standout attributes were his rare combination of size (6-foot-5, 237 pounds), speed and athleticism, with elite leaping and strong hands for contested catches. His playing style was that of an unstoppable deep threat: explosive routes, physical after the catch and dominant in jump-ball situations.
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While never criticized for on-field play, his early retirement at 30 in 2016—citing frustration with the Lions’ losing culture and injuries—shocked fans.
Post-retirement tensions with the organization eased over time. Johnson remains a Lions icon.
But who ranks ahead of Megatron at No. 5 all-time?
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