Calvin Johnson retired from football unexpectedly in March.
The former Georgia Tech star wide receiver addressed the reasons behind his departure from the game after nine NFL seasons during his annual football camp in Detroit. Johnson told the Detroit Free Press:
"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.
"I'm not going to get into the specifics of the things that I feel it's taken away, but it definitely feels good, I guess I can say for myself, to spend more time around the family, my son, I just got married. So things are going good right now."
...
"Simply – I wouldn't just quit because we were losing. It was just body. I was just tired of it, fed up. Just had enough."
Johnson explained that his hands, in particular, had been battered by the game.
The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Detroit Lions holds the single-season receiving record (1,964 yards).
Johnson, who grew up in Tyrone, told the Detroit newspaper that he plans to move back to Atlanta and hopes to complete his business management degree from Georgia Tech -- he’s 30 credits shy -- starting this fall.
About the Author
