For most NFL fans, DK Metcalf is a giant among men compared to fellow wide receivers. He is regarded as a freak of nature for his electric speed at his towering height. However, fans were left stunned after the Lions-Seahawks matchup when Lions legend Calvin Johnson Jr. pulled off a rare feat—making DK Metcalf look small.
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Billed at 6 foot four inches and 240 pounds, Metcalf rarely gets dwarfed by players. But when Calvin Johnson Jr. shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the Seahawks player, we realized that even the unthinkable is sometimes within reach.
WILD: Calvin Johnson makes DK Metcalf look small…
DK is 6-four, 240 pounds pic.twitter.com/ACzIzmx1jx
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 1, 2024
From a factual standpoint, though, Johnson is just an inch taller than Metcalf. However, his overall physique and his body posture make him appear much larger.
Unsurprisingly, fans were stunned by how “Megatron” made Metcalf look like a child in front of him and thus refused to believe that the Lions legend is an inch shorter than 6-foot-8.
Megatron looks 6’8”
— Rydawggderglerr69 (@Rydawggderggler) October 1, 2024
Yeah that 1 inch difference is crazy
— Salty Buccaneer☠️⬜️ (@SaltyBuc91) October 1, 2024
Lions fans, meanwhile, reminded fellow NFL fans why Johnson was known as the “Megatron” back in his days.
Just shows how dominant Megatron really was
— Mighty Matt (@HskrsStarsBucs) October 1, 2024
They called him Megatron for a reason
— Hate First Sports (@hatefirstsports) October 1, 2024
It’s heartening to see Lions fans reminisce about the greatness of Calvin Johnson Jr., especially since many fans of the newer generation barely know the brilliance of one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.
A look back at Johnson Jr.’s NFL career
Before Metcalf, Johnson Jr. was the first wideout who stunned the NFL world with his freakish frame and alien-like agility. In the late 2000s, a player like him—who could run a 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and execute a vertical jump of 42.5 inches—was almost unheard of. What set his name in stone, however, was Johnson Jr.’s on-field exploits.
6′ 5″ ▫️ 4.38 40 ▫️ 42.5 inch vert
Megatron was unstoppable‼️ @calvinjohnsonjr pic.twitter.com/syNZNMZjRy
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) May 5, 2020
In his 9-year storied and illustrious stint with the Lions, Johnson clinched six Pro Bowl nods. 10 years after retirement, he still holds the record for most receiving yards in a season — 1964 yards.
Additionally, Johnson’s consistency shines through in his other record: most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (eight). However, Adam Thielen ties the former Lions great for the top spot with an identical streak.
While it isn’t unusual to see the NFL produce an athletic freak every season, what’s rare is to see a truly genetic marvel back it up with superlative performances. This is why Calvin Johnson Jr. will forever hold a special place in the NFL’s history books.
