Calvin Johnson Jr. Inducted Into Pride of the Lions at Ford Field

Allen Park, Mich. - In a momentous announcement, the Detroit Lions have revealed that former wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions during halftime at their Homecoming game on September 30, 2024. The game, set to take place on Monday Night Football with kickoff at 8:15 PM ET, will see the Lions face off against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field.

The Pride of the Lions is a prestigious permanent display at Ford Field, honoring the greatest players in the history of the franchise. Detroit Lions Chief Operating Officer Mike Disner surprised Johnson Jr. with the news during the second annual Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation Celebrity Golf Outing on July 15 at the Detroit Golf Club.

Detroit Lions President and CEO, Rod Wood, expressed his excitement about adding Calvin Johnson Jr. to the esteemed group of Lions legends. He highlighted Johnson Jr.'s exceptional commitment both on the field and to the city of Detroit, stating that this honor is truly well-deserved. Wood mentioned that they take immense pride in forever memorializing Johnson Jr. inside Ford Field as a Detroit Lion.

Johnson Jr. will join the ranks of 20 other all-time Lions greats featured on the Pride of the Lions display, which was initially unveiled in 2009. Recent inductees include offensive tackle Lomas Brown in 2023 and linebacker Chris Spielman in 2021. The distinguished list also includes iconic names such as Herman Moore, Lem Barney, Barry Sanders, and Bobby Layne, to name a few.

Selected as the second overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech, Johnson Jr. had a remarkable nine-season career with the Lions. He started in 130 out of 135 games, amassing an impressive 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and scoring 83 touchdowns. Johnson Jr. holds the franchise records for career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

The former Lions star was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, making him the seventh wide receiver in NFL history and the second player in Lions history to be named a first-ballot inductee. Johnson Jr. was also selected to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and earned six Pro Bowl selections throughout his career. He was recognized with three First-Team AP All-Pros and one Second-Team AP All-Pro. Additionally, Johnson Jr. holds the NFL single-season receiving yardage record with an astonishing 1,964 yards achieved in 2012. He led the league in receiving yards in 2011 and 2012 and in receptions during the 2012 season. Furthermore, he topped the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2008.

The induction of Calvin Johnson Jr. into the Pride of the Lions serves as a testament to his exceptional contributions to the Detroit Lions and the game of football. Lions fans and football enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the special ceremony that will forever immortalize his legacy inside Ford Field.