Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was an all-time great, but really wished his professional career followed his college path in Georgia. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Johnson hoped Atlanta Falcons would trade up to draft him

By Blake Harper | Last updated 7/2/20

Calvin Johnson is arguably the best player the Detroit Lions have had since Barry Sanders but if the receiver had his way, he wouldn't have ended up in Detroit at all. During an interview on former Lions safety Glover Quin's YouTube show "The DB Room," Johnson revealed that he was hoping that the Falcons would trade up and grab him.

"Sitting there leading up to the draft, I am like shoot — boy I hope I go to Atlanta," Johnson said. Played my high school ball, played my college ball right here, and then playing in the NFL right here. That would be the best little thing ever. Atlanta got No. 7 — I might not be there. I hope they trade up to get me. I didn't honestly want to go to Oakland. Didn't want to go across the country. Didn't want to go to Detroit. So far north. That's the thing about the NFL, nobody has control over really where you're going unless you're Eli Manning."

Johnson's desire to play in Atlanta makes sense, as he was raised in Georgia and attended Georgia Tech for three years before joining the NFL. However, the trade never came to fruition and Johnson ended up playing his entire career in Detroit.

Johnson was perhaps the most dominant receiver in the league during his nine seasons, making six Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro teams and leading the NFL in receiving yards twice. Sadly, his relationship with the team soured by the end of his career (which many believe ended as a result of this bad relationship), and he has said he has no plans to associate with the Lions in the future.

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