On this date 14 years ago, September 12th of 2010, NFL fans learned the phrase “process of the catch” thanks to the Detroit Lions and Hall of Fame wideout Calvin Johnson. It was a (non)catch by Johnson in the Chicago end zone that brought the previously obscure rule into greater consciousness.
We know it now as the “Calvin Johnson rule.” Say those words and everyone–certainly in the Lions world–knows exactly what you’re talking about.
If you’re too young to remember it, or blocked it out of the memory banks in a combination of anger, sadness and disbelief (all valid emotions), here’s the play in question, via TikTok:
@javier.baezazz2 HOW IS THAT NOT A CATCH?!? 🤯 2010 Lions vs Bears Week 1 !! Calvin Johnson !! #widereciever #touchdown #catch #controversial #nflfootball #americanfootball #sports #football #gridironfootball #throwback #nfithrowback #throwbacknfl #oldnfl #nfl2010 #nfl2010s #nfltiktok #nflmemes #nflcomedy #calvinjohnson #lions #bears #megatron #nfl #fyp #explorepage #enjoy @Detroit Lions @Chicago Bears ♬ original sound – javier.ba3zaz
Johnson caught the ball on a pass from Shaun Hill, filling in for an injured Matthew Stafford. No. 81 landed with full control of the ball, getting both feet down inbounds. As he went to the ground, Johnson put the ball on the ground after palming it in his hand in clear control of the catch. Referee Gene Steratore’s crew ruled it incomplete on the field despite the official you see clearly raising his arms to indicate a touchdown in the clip. When Johnson put the ball on the ground before he had completed going to the ground, it meant the process of the catch wasn’t complete.
And that, for me, has always been the part the NFL truly got wrong. You don’t think Calvin Johnson did that on purpose knowing full well he’d scored a game-winning touchdown?! He completed the process of the catch and going to the ground as the rule dictates.
To this day, 14 years later, NFL analysts and broadcast commentators still refer to these sorts of situations as the Calvin Johnson Rule. It remains one of the most confusingly subjective rules in football.