Lions WR Jameson Williams honored Calvin Johnson on Monday night with a thunderous celebration.
During halftime of their Monday night tilt with the Seattle Seahawks, the Detroit Lions honored Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson by inducting him into their Pride of the Lions, the franchise’s ring of honor. About an hour later, Lions receiver Jameson Williams did his own tribute to Johnson on the field.
Late in the third quarter, Williams ran a crossing route, and after a perfect pass from Jared Goff, he turned it up field for an explosive 70-yard touchdown. As he scampered in the end zone, he approached the goal posts and laid down a thunderous dunk.
Waymo: Primetime Mode#SEAvsDET | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/D6S8q4PAud
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 1, 2024
Jameson Williams dunking it pic.twitter.com/XDPk3INDws
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) October 1, 2024
In an interview with Lions post-game host Anthony Bellino, he was asked if that was a tribute to Johnson, who often used his ridiculously huge frame to dunk on the goal posts. Williams said it was.
“Yeah, that was for him,” Williams said. “Happy birthday, man. Happy Birthday.”
Johnson turned 39 years old on Sunday.
Despite the honor, Williams was penalized 15 yards for the celebration. Back in 2014, the NFL outlawed goal post dunking, likely because Jimmy Graham had caused a delay after his goal-post dunk caused a misalignment with the posts. But it was no harm, no foul. The penalty simply backed up Jake Bates for an extra point, and the Lions kicker nailed the 48-yard point after touchdown.
In the end, it’s pretty cool to see such a young receiver honor the greatest receiver to have ever played in a Lions uniform. And to do it on one of the most exciting plays of the night was a nice cherry on top.
