Calvin Johnson will always be big fan of former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell

Jim Caldwell shakes hands with Calvin Johnson before a game in 2015.(AP file)

GRAND RAPIDS - Former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell was one of the biggest influences on Calvin Johnson's NFL career, and that won't change after the team made a coaching change.

"It's the nature of the league. You can't get upset about it because those things happen," Johnson said after his coach for his final three seasons was fired. "Hate it for Caldwell because Caldwell is a great guy."

Johnson, who spoke before the Economic Club of Grand Rapids on Monday, didn't know much about new coach Matt Patricia, who was officially hired last week.

"They got a good pedigree with him," Johnson said. "Don't know much beyond that. But he comes from a championship-level team, and hopefully that will translate."

The arrival of Patricia meant the exit of one of the most important coaches in Johnson's career. He called Caldwell "a father figure" and a "role model" in his praises before some 700 guests at JW Marriott.

"In all the years I was there, he spoke to everyone and treated everyone on the team like a man," Johnson said. "That's what you like to see in a head coach. You can't have someone who treats some guys one way and treat others another way."

Part of the respect between the two came when Johnson went into Caldwell's office and told him his retirement plans after the 2016 season at age 30.

"I'm not a big crier. But the day I told him I wasn't coming back, I did cry that day," Johnson said. "It was tough to tell somebody who you felt was invested in you as a person ... It was hard to tell him."

Perhaps most illuminating in Johnson's comments was about Matt Stafford, his quarterback for seven of his nine seasons, and his instinctual knowledge of the receiver's retirement thoughts.

"It was funny, after the last game in Chicago, leaving the field, I hugged him up and he was like 'I already know,'" Johnson said. "He already knew, and it was funny how he knew before I even told him."

Johnson concluded his career with 731 receptions, 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns and a likely place in the hall of fame.

Johnson is just 32 but has already repeatedly said he does not plan to come out of retirement. Instead, he is involved in residential real estate around the Detroit area with former teammate Rob Sims; development of the Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation that empowers youngsters to build self-esteem and positive thinking, and speaking to NFL players to create a retirement plan and prepare for life after football.

As for his relationship with the Lions, Johnson, when asked after his talk, wouldn't say either way.

"No comment," he said with a chuckle before adding: "Every time I comment on them it becomes a big story and I don't want that. I'm just living my life and having a good time."

But, of course, he was asked a couple questions in a couple different way about why he retired. His simplest explanation? The state of the Lions and the condition of his body told him.

"Unfortunately, we were never able to get to where we wanted to be," he said about a Super Bowl. "But, at the time you feel a change in guys leaving the team and you could sense from being there so long where you are as team and how far you can make it.

"For myself, with all the things my body was doing and the way things were going, it was just my time."

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