Calvin Johnson Considering Retirement At 30

It’s hard to believe it’s about that time for Calvin Johnson, but after nine NFL seasons, the man they call Megatron is thinking about retirement.

"“Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future,” Johnson said in the statement. I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future.”"

It has been a taxing nine seasons for Johnson, one of the most physically gifted receivers in NFL history. His hands are all banged up and his ankle kept him from practicing much of this year. He still played in all 16 games, and still caught 88 passes for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns, so it’s not like he’s a declining player.

At age 30, he’s just a tired one.

"“There has been some conversations about it, not asking me how it is,” said one former teammate who asked to remain anonymous because of the personal nature of his talks with Johnson. “But I think the guy’s beat up. I think he’s been through enough. And I think it’s just his time. He’s made the money, got the records, but whatever. I don’t know for sure if he’s going to do it. I don’t know if he’s going to get that itch to keep going. I really don’t know.”"

If Johnson does retire, it will be another case of the Lions losing a legendary player to retirement in the prime of his career. Barry Sanders retired at age 31 in 1999, after a 1,400-yard season. Sanders later admitted it was the Lions’ losing culture, not his body, that pushed him to retire.

Johnson hasn’t indicated that was the issue for him, but he’s played on just two winning teams in nine seasons in Detroit.

Johnson set an NFL record for reception yards with 1,964 in 2012 and has had at least 1,000 yards in seven of his nine seasons.