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“I Almost Quit on My First Day”: Lions Legend Calvin Johnson Recalls Brutal Hit That Made Him Consider Early Retirement Before NFL Stardom

Calvin Johnson Jr. was able to put up a gigantic feat for the Detroit Lions that earned him the nickname “Megatron” in his rookie season. But not everything was as smooth as it looked. Right after his first exposure to…

By Soheli Tarafdar · Essentially Sports

Published: Saturday, 7 November 2026 at 4:24 AM

Key Things to Know

Calvin Johnson revealed he almost quit football on his first day after enduring a brutal middle school hit.
While playing running back, Johnson was tackled hard during a 45-degree drill by 200-plus-pound lineman Brandon Murphy.
Johnson persevered, later hitting a growth spurt and successfully transitioning into playing wide receiver.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Detroit Lions Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. revealed that he nearly quit football on his very first day playing the sport in middle school. While lining up as a 150-pound running back, Johnson endured a brutal hit during a high-impact 45-degree tackling drill from defensive lineman Brandon Murphy, who weighed over 200 pounds, making him seriously contemplate quitting football immediately.

Despite the harsh hit and an unpleasant early experience, Johnson persevered, eventually experienced a growth spurt, and transitioned to playing wide receiver. He went on to star at Sandy Creek High School and Georgia Tech before putting together a storied NFL career with the Lions, winning two league receiving yardage titles.

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