One wonders how much of this is revisionist history and/or a matter of timing.
January 2016
According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson told his inner circle before the 2015 season he would retire at the end of the year.
After the season, Johnson, 30, gave Lions coach Jim Caldwell the same message.
After nine seasons in the NFL, Johnson’s body is beaten down. The five-time Pro Bowler has battled lingering ankle injuries and general body soreness to the point that it would be difficult for him to return for another season, during which he would turn 31 years old.
Johnson’s body has been so sore and his conviction so strong that he shared his decision to retire after the 2015 season with only two teammates – quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Stephen Tulloch – with the request that they keep it confidential, according to sources.
June 2016
Former Lions WR Calvin Johnson: ‘Things are going good right now’
Michael Rothstein
ESPN Staff Writer
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – His body wasn’t holding up anymore and Calvin Johnson had had enough. That, the former Detroit Lions All-Pro receiver said, was a big reason for his retirement.
It had nothing to do with the Lions’ record when he was with the team. It had nothing to do with the lack of playoff appearances or Super Bowls. It was just that his body was starting to fail him after knee, ankle and finger surgeries.
Even months after he retired, Johnson wore a splint on his injured finger during his Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation Catching Dreams Football Camp at L’Anse Creuse High School in Michigan.
Johnson announced his retirement in March after nine NFL seasons. He had not spoken publicly about his retirement since the announcement, choosing to forgo a news conference in favor of a lengthy statement. On Saturday, after his camp concluded, he spoke about it for the first time.
“I know everybody wants to know why I retired, but it’s more so I put a lot into the game and it’s taken a lot out of me and that’s where I’m at right now,” Johnson said. "I’m not getting into the specifics of the things that it has taken away, but it definitely feels good, I guess I could say for myself, to spend more time around my family, my son, just got married.
“Things are going good right now.”
His former teammate, Rob Sims, said most people don’t understand how much pain and injury Johnson played through during his career. Johnson caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns.
“He really played through some stuff that a guy of his caliber doesn’t usually do,” Sims said. “And we used him. We used him. I remember picking him up a couple times and being like, ‘God, man, you should not be in this game right now.’ But we needed him.”
And it was his body that eventually made him decide to retire – nothing else.
“I wouldn’t just quit because we were losing,” Johnson said. "Just [my] body, man, I was tired of it. I was fed up. Had enough."
Don’t expect him to be coming back, well, ever. Johnson made that clear Saturday.
"I’m not coming back," Johnson said. “You ain’t gotta worry about that.”
Summer 2017
Report: Teams inquired about trading for rights to Calvin Johnson
Posted by Josh Alper on October 29, 2017, 10:17 AM EDT
Over the summer, there were reports that teams had reached out to Calvin Johnson to see if the retired wide receiver had interest in returning to the NFL.
Such overtures would actually constitute tampering since Johnson’s rights are held by the Lions and at least a couple of teams interested in seeing if Johnson wants to play again have reportedly involved the Lions in their exploration.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports two teams have spoken to the Lions about trading for Johnson’s rights. The Lions reportedly told teams to speak to Johnson, but things have not progressed as Johnson has shown no sign of wanting to double back on the decision he made to walk away after the 2015 season.
While the Lions would likely be amenable to a deal that gets them an asset in place of a player who isn’t playing for them, it seems unlikely any team will be giving up anything in exchange for the rights to Johnson unless he makes it clear he’s going to play. With the trade deadline two days away, that would have to happen quickly.
Trade Deadline–October 2017
Adam Schefter
ESPN Senior Writer
Over the past week, two teams [Chris Mortensen reported it was the Eagles and Jaguars] have spoken to the Detroit Lions about potentially trading for Calvin Johnson’s rights before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, league sources told ESPN.
Figuring they had nothing to lose, the Lions told teams to reach out to the retired wide receiver to gauge his interest, but so far it has been noncommittal at best, diminishing any hope for a deal, sources said.
Johnson, 32, who announced his retirement in March 2016, would have to be willing to play for any team that traded for his rights. There remains doubt that Johnson, who has not played since the 2015 season, would even be willing to return.
**Johnson has told ESPN many times he is not returning** to football.
Nonetheless, at least two teams have been curious enough to inquire within the past week. If any team decides it wants to add a pricey receiver for a second-half run, Detroit would be willing to listen, sources said.
The most prolific wide receiver in franchise history, Johnson retired after nine professional seasons in which he accumulated over 11,000 receiving yards, seven 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl invitations. He holds 15 NFL records, including the most receiving yards in a season with 1,964 in 2012.
The Lions declined comment, as did Johnson’s representative, Bus Cook.