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These star athletes took early retirement

Calvin Johnson, the prolific Detroit Lions wide receiver whose amazing size and strength led a teammate to tag him with the comic-book name "Megatron" early in his career, released a statement Wednesday saying he wasn't sure if he'd return to the NFL for his 10th season. This though he just earned his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

Johnson, 30, is believed to be worn down by recent injuries and the Lions' lack of success. If he does retire, he'll join this list of illustrious athletes who left fans wanting more.

Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers, 30

The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker said that seeing too many hobbled retired players, as well as fatigue from his own recurring injuries, factored into his decision to quit in March 2015 with three years and nearly $20 million in base salary left on his contract.