Poor Detroit. First one of the greatest running backs in history (Lion Barry Sanders) retired “early” at thirty. Now the greatest wide receiver in history (Lion Calvin Johnson) is rumored to do the same.
Yet Lynn Swann is “not sure” Calvin Johnson is a Hall-of-Famer, as if it were up to him to decide. Swann benefited from the Steeler dynasty, as well as having a hall of fame receiver, running back, and quarterback to share the load. Johnson had no such luxury, yet outperformed Swann in every season. Like Johnson, Swann played only nine seasons and retired at thirty due to injuries. Swann only played three full 14 game seasons. Johnson played at least 14 games in all but one season.
Yet Lynn Swann is “not sure” Calvin Johnson is a Hall-of-Famer, as if it were up to him to decide. Swann benefited from the Steeler dynasty, as well as having a hall of fame receiver, running back, and quarterback to share the load. Johnson had no such luxury, yet outperformed Swann in every season. Like Johnson, Swann played only nine seasons and retired at thirty due to injuries. Swann only played three full 14 game seasons. Johnson played at least 14 games in all but one season.
Swann’s quote: . "I would think that it would be difficult for Calvin Johnson at this point to be considered a Hall of Famer," the legendary Steelers wideout told The Detroit News. "Calvin Johnson has an extreme amount of talent and ability, but when you start to look at his team, the success of his team and did he lift that team; he made them a little bit better, but at the end of the day, I'm not quite sure."
Around the NFL.com writer Conor Orr counters: “Swann has 6,107 fewer receiving yards than Johnson and 32 fewer touchdowns. So while we would have to take him seriously on the numbers aspect, his insistence on leaning into Pittsburgh's dynasty of the time doesn't help move the conversation forward.”
Orr continues: “The Hall of Fame is supposed to consider more than just blind stats, and the team success argument alone is weak. Johnson played on some awful Lions teams over the years and redefined what it meant to be a big body receiver. His contributions off the field are also stellar and could work in his favor.”
Fact: In the same number of years Swann caught less than half as many passes as Johnson, and gained less than half as many yards. Now which one shouldn’t be in the hall of fame?
YR.GP.rec.YD.TD.avg
74 12 11 208 02 18.9
75 14 49 781 11 15.9
76 12 28 516 03 18.4
77 14 50 789 07 15.8
78 16 61 880 11 14.4
79 13 41 808 05 19.7
80 13 44 710 07 16.1
81 13 34 505 05 14.9
82 09 18 265 00 14.7
09 116 336 5462 51 16.3 LSwann
14 183 501 8685 67 17.3 CBranch
Using Swann’s argument, Oakland Raider Cliff Branch should have been elected into the HOF before Swann. The Raiders running game paled in comparison to the Steelers. Branch was every bit the electrifying receiver that was Swann.
Johnson’s receiving yards ranks sixth among active receivers and third in touchdowns. All-time he is 27th in yards and 22nd in touchdowns, behind non-hall-of-famers Jimmy Smith, Tory Holt, Henry Ellard, and Terrell Owens. But those four needed at least two more seasons to put up only marginally better numbers. And if mere numbers were the criteria for entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Herschel Walker would have been enshrined long ago (see below).
YR.GP.rec…YD..TD.avg
07 15 048 0756 04 15.8
08 16 078 1331 12 17.1
09 14 067 0984 05 14.7
10 15 077 1120 12 14.5
11 16 096 1681 16 17.5
12 16 122 1964 05 16.1
13 14 084 1492 12 17.8
14 13 071 1077 08 15.2
15 16 088 1214 09 13.8
09 135 0731 11619 083 15.9 CJohnson
09 116 0336 05462 051 16.3 LSwann
11 178 0862 12287 067 14.3 JSmith
11 173 0920 13382 074 14.5 THolt
17 228 0814 13777 065 16.9 HEllard
15 219 1078 15934 153 14.8 TOwens
In fact Calvin’s career numbers compare favorably with Jerry Rice’s first nine years in the league. Johnson had more catches in fewer games, with a higher yards per catch average.
YR.GP.rec…YD..TD.avg
85 16 049 0927 03 18.9
86 16 086 1570 15 18.3
87 12 065 1078 22 16.6
88 16 064 1306 09 20.4
89 16 082 1483 17 18.1
90 16 100 1502 13 15.0
81 16 080 1206 14 15.1
92 16 084 1201 10 14.3
93 16 098 1503 15 15.3
09 140 0708 11776 118 16.6 JRice 1st 9 years
09 135 0731 11619 083 15.9 CJohnson
20 303 1549 22895 197 14.8 JRice career
Rice, considered by some to be the greatest football player in history, is said to have gained more yards than any player in NFL history. Yet Herschel Walker averaged twenty more yards per game in the NFL, and gained over 1600 more professional yards than Rice. Indeed, Walker also out-gained Rice in both college and high school. This means Herschel has gained more yards than any football player in history.
YR.GP..APYD..YPG
20 303 23546 077.7 JR
16 241 25214 104.6 HW pro
13 187 18168 097.2 HW NFL
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