NFL Legend Calvin Johnson Talks Comeback, Stafford, Josh Allen, Lions and More in B/R Interview

Calvin Johnson sees Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers thriving in the latter stages of their careers. He also saw Aaron Donald and Philip Rivers recently come out of retirement.

But don't get any ideas.

"No, I'm done," the 41-year-old told Bleacher Report while laughing. "I'm 10 years out. But it's fun to keep watching Matthew and even to see Philip Rivers come back. I played against Philip in my college days. Aaron Donald looks like he's still going to have an impact for that team. It's awesome to see them all still perform at a high level."

Johnson is partially remembered for a stunning retirement that came after his age-30 season, which was his sixth straight with more than 1,000 receiving yards. Detroit Lions fans have surely dreamed of a comeback ever since he walked away so early, but that is not going to happen.

Instead, they will have to reminisce over some of the most memorable highlights in NFL history.

Johnson was unguardable with the combination of size at 6'5" to make contested catches and speed to get past press coverage at the line of scrimmage. He is still the Lions' all-time leader in catches (731), receiving yards (11,619) and touchdown catches (83) and holds the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a single season with 1,964 in 2012.

The end result of his legendary career was an induction into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.

His former teammate in Stafford will eventually join him in Canton, Ohio, especially after he won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 campaign and then took home the MVP in 2025 in his age-37 season.

"I was happy for him," Johnson said. "The work he's put in over time, the work he put in with Detroit, to the Super Bowl he won in LA. The level of experience he has carries him a long way. For him to be able to go out there and continue to do it year after year is great."

While Stafford has added to his legacy with the Rams, he will always be linked together with Johnson after they played together for the Lions for seven years. Johnson led the league in receiving yards twice during that span, and the combination led the 2011 Detroit team to the playoffs to snap a franchise streak of 11 straight years without a postseason appearance.

The current-day Lions are in a much different spot, though, under head coach Dan Campbell.

They finished with a winning record in each of the previous four seasons, including when they reached the NFC Championship Game in the 2023 campaign and then went 15-2 in the 2024 season.

It is a notable run of success for a franchise that has never made the Super Bowl and was long known as a struggling club, but much of the same offensive core with Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, among others, have been in place for the last few years and will be expected to eventually take the next step.

"They're probably feeling some of the pressure," Johnson said of his former team. "People put pressure on you from the outside, but within the organization I'm sure everything is smooth and flowing in the right direction with the way they performed the last couple of weeks. 

"The offense is coming around. Drew Petzing is doing better and better, it seems like he's getting comfortable with his guys and getting to know them pretty well. Defense is my sticking point, just making sure that secondary doesn't get exposed. I know Brian Branch is supposed to be coming back, which is great. But we know that can be an issue for us, so just make sure we cover that."

Detroit is off to a solid 3-2 start behind an offense that has thrived under a new offensive coordinator in Petzing and is tied with the Buffalo Bills for the most points per game at 32.8.

If a defense that is 30th in the league in points allowed per game plays at even an average level moving forward, it isn't unrealistic to expect the Lions to contend for their first Super Bowl in franchise history with Johnson cheering them on in retirement.

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They aren't the only high-powered offense the Hall of Famer is paying attention to this season, as he also enjoys watching Josh Allen and the Bills.

"I am a Josh Allen fan," he said. "I would like to see him—as long as it's not against my Lions—get himself one. I think he's been a great player for a long time in this league. He's well-deserving of one. So hopefully they can get him over the edge as long as it's not against the Lions."

Like Detroit, Buffalo has never won a Super Bowl despite coming close in recent years. In fact, the Bills have reached the playoffs seven times and the AFC Championship Game twice since Allen took over as the full-time starter during the 2018 season.

The only thing truly missing from his resume that includes a league MVP and four Pro Bowl selections is a Super Bowl ring, which would further cement him as a future Hall of Famer and franchise icon.

While Johnson is watching the Lions and Bills in retirement and no longer playing, he is still focused on keeping his energy up and taking care of his health.

With that in mind, he partnered with Hims to help the company's efforts to drop the stigma around aging, energy and testosterone.

"We're all going to age, and with that there are going to be changes in our body," Johnson said. "My biggest thing is just keeping my energy levels up. I've got three boys at home, and being able to do the things they want to do and get outside and not feel sluggish is key."

Hims is revealing its largest testosterone expansion yet with injectable testosterone replacement therapy in compounded and commercial formulations, which builds on what it was already offering.

"Hims is being proactive," Johnson said. "A lot of men, we get kind of lax in terms of taking care of our health. Especially with me being a former professional athlete, I can speak to it. You almost feel untouchable while you're playing. But soon after you're done playing, all the aches and pains start to add up. Even more than that, energy levels start to decline sometimes. Being able to know where you're at and understand there is help out there can get you back to peak performance."

Few wide receivers in NFL history know what peak performance on the field looks like better than Johnson, and he continues to watch St. Brown carry on his legacy as an unstoppable Lions wide receiver.

He also loves watching Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson play as two of the best in the game, although Carolina Panthers star Tetairoa McMillan has also caught his attention.

"I like some of the young talent too," Johnson said. "Tet McMillan, he's a player. He reminds me of myself as a big guy who can run. But he uses his hands. That's what strikes my interest, a guy who uses his hands out there. I look forward to watching the rest of his career. He's young and in that second year, so he should have a big year this year and keep figuring it out. The second year for receivers is usually big."

McMillan is a 6'4" playmaker who can beat defenses with his speed or his physicality as a threat in the red zone. He is a star receiver who has immediately elevated the ceiling for a team that has struggled in the past, which is something Johnson can certainly relate to following his time in Detroit.

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The No. 8 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft already won the Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first year and turned heads against the Lions this season with 14 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

He also earned the respect of one of the franchise's all-time greats in the process.