Calvin Johnson, the 30-year-old wide receiver known as Megatron, announced his retirement from the N.F.L. on Tuesday after nine mostly spectacular seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Johnson had 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns last season, playing through lingering injuries, as he often did. He ends with 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. Johnson broke one of the Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s records with 1,964 yards receiving in 2012, a total Atlanta’s Julio Jones approached last season.
Johnson also drew a comparison to the Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who slipped away from the Lions shortly before the 1999 season after he had 1,491 yards rushing as a 30-year-old running back the previous year.