Detroit Lions receiver Calvin 'Megatron' Johnson is retiring

Calvin "Megatron" Johnson is hanging up the cleats.

One of, if not the, most dynamic and dangerous receivers of this decade has informed his coach, Jim Caldwell, that 2015 was his last season, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting.

Tweet proof:

Calvin Johnson told Lions he plans to retire. Full story on ESPN:https://t.co/Syqr41b6pR https://t.co/iGoFexUkE2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2016

It's an announcement that is sure to elicit emotions around the NFL world, as the career Detroit Lion was widely liked and equally revered for his skills.

As far as the Ravens go, the last time they faced him was on a crucial Monday night in the 2014 season. That game was sorely needed on both ends, but the Ravens limited Johnson's effectiveness and used the momentum from that game to win more and edge into the playoffs.

Schefter is reporting that the decision was actually communicated to Coach Caldwell the day after the season ended, and then Caldwell advised him to take his time on the decision. Other teammates reportedly knew of his decision before then and kept his confidence.

Johnson is gangly, at 6'5" and 237 pounds, and he has absorbed lots of hits and collisions over his nine seasons.  He has shown himself more prone to injury in the last few seasons, missing games in two of the last three.  At 31, he naturally had lost a step, according to some scouting reports, but had also lost a little bit of verve due to the injuries.

Any true football fan was rooting to see Johnson on the biggest stage, and sadly, it appears he fell just short with a great playoff appearance in 2014, missing it altogether this year.

Baltimore Beatdown will continue to cover this ongoing story.