Calvin Johnson to announce Lions pick at NFL Draft

It's been 19 years since Calvin Johnson heard his name called at the 2007 NFL Draft.

Next week in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions legend will be present for the event once again.

Johnson, the former No. 2 pick, is one of several former players and legends who will be on hand at the 2026 NFL Draft to announce picks live and in person during Rounds 2 and 3, according to a league announcement on Thursday.

Former Detroit Lion Calvin Johnson before the game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on November 23. 2025.

Since the Lions don't currently have a third-round pick, it's expected that he'll announce the selection for Detroit's second-rounder, pick No. 50.

While Johnson's presence around the team has become commonplace in recent seasons, his involvement in next week's draft will mark yet another milestone for the mending of the fences between player and team. Johnson and the Lions had a nasty split after the team asked Johnson to repay some of his bonus money upon his retirement in March 2016.

During a Week 4, 2024 game against the Seattle Seahawks, Johnson was inducted into the Pride of the Lions, a permanent display inside Ford Field that honors the franchise's greatest players.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi