Johnson encouraged by Lions personally reaching out to him

Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Johnson encouraged by Lions exec personally reaching out to him

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/22/23

It’s no secret Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions have had a strained relationship since the former All-Pro receiver retired in 2015.

But after years of the two parties avoiding one another, Johnson recently admitted in an interview with Jim Rome that he believes the two are headed for a reconciliation thanks in part to one front office executive.

“[Chief operating officer] Mike Disner over there with the Lions, he’s back in town and I feel like he’s going to put in an effort to try to bring the two of us together and put us back on the same page,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about that and I’m excited about him reaching out and putting an effort forward to try and make that happen. That’s the difference that I have not seen in the past that’s happening now.”

Much appreciated @jimrome https://t.co/nSaLF1MYmG
— Calvin Johnson Jr. (@calvinjohnsonjr) February 22, 2023

Johnson disclosed in December on “The Richard Sherman Podcast” that he wanted the organization to make things right because it hurt both sides not having him involved in anything Lions-related.

The disagreement between the two happened after Johnson announced his retirement on March 8, 2016. Johnson believed the team was squeezing him for money when they made him pay back $1.6M of his signing bonus due to retiring before his contract was up.

Johnson played nine seasons in Detroit, ending his career with 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, and 83 touchdowns. He owned 16 franchise records when he retired including career receptions, yards, and touchdowns, the single-season record for touchdown receptions (16), and the single-game record for receiving yards (329).

He was a three-time First Team All-Pro, a Second Team All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowler, a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, and he led the NFL in receptions in 2012 and receiving yards in 2011 and 2012.

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