Lions WR Calvin Johnson Retires

(photo credit: bleacherreport.com)

The Detroit Lions have announced that wide receiver Calvin Johnson has officially retired. He caught 88 passes for 1,214 yard and nine touchdowns. He also broke the NFL record for receiving yards in a single season in 2012 when he caught 122 passes for 1,964 yards. He only caught five touchdowns in 2012, however.

His career high in touchdown receptions came in 2011 when he caught 16 touchdown passes. In his eight seasons in Detroit, he caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. He went over the 1,000 yard receiving yard mark in all but two seasons, his rookie season in 2007 and quarterback Matthew Stafford's rookie season in 2009.

"After much prayer, thought, and discussion with loved ones, I have made the difficult decision to retire from the Lions and pro football," Johnson said in a statement, "I have played my last game of football.

In his eight years, the Lions have played in just two playoff games, both losses on the road. But he was part of the Lions team that won at Lambeau Field against their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers for the first time since 1991.