San Francisco — A month ago, this wouldn’t have been a debate, assuming Calvin Johnson would play a couple more years and add to his gaudy numbers.
But, with the Lions star wide receiver considering retirement after just nine seasons, he’s no longer the lock to be a first-ballot addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Many former and current players think Johnson has already done enough to be enshrined eventually, but longevity often plays a factor in players making the Hall of Fame. Considering there’s a debate over whether or not Terrell Owens is worthy of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer, despite ranking second all-time in receiving yards, it would seem Johnson faces an uphill battle to be in that prestigious group.