Calvin Johnson has been actively recruited to come out of retirement.
The Detroit Lions legend has been contacted by multiple teams about the prospect of returning to the NFL, according to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman.
Freeman wrote in part:
According to a number of NFL sources, at least a half-dozen teams have reached out to retired wide receiver Calvin Johnson to gauge whether he would consider returning to the field, but Johnson has said no. Still, the attempts to convince Johnson to make a comeback have been fairly fierce.
Even if Johnson wanted to come back, there’s a problem. He retired as a Lion, so the Lions still control his rights. Another team would have to work out a trade to get him on its roster, like the Raiders did to acquire Marshawn Lynch.
As a Detroit Lions fan, Johnson returning to the NFL is a doomsday scenario. It’s no secret the Lions and Johnson didn’t end on the greatest terms. He banged up his body for the team, and was rarely surrounded by the talent he needed to win.
The situation is only made worse by the fact the Lions burned Barry Sanders so badly, he also left the team long before he should have. It’s hard enough to swallow the fact my favorite team got two of the greatest players ever to retire in their prime. I’m not sure I can swallow it if Johnson comes out of retirement to wear a different jersey.
It literally could break the spirits and souls of countless Lions fans.