‘You can’t win a Super Bowl…’: Calvin Johnson revisits Lions’ biggest mistake

Calvin Johnson believes the Detroit Lions have had the talent to win a Super Bowl but insists they cannot reach the NFL's biggest prize without being willing to spend big.

The former wide receiver pointed to Matthew Stafford's departure as an example of why Detroit needed to be more aggressive in building a championship-winning roster.

Johnson spent his entire NFL career with the Lions before retiring at just 30 years old, but his relationship with the organisation has improved considerably in recent years.

Calvin Johnson says Detroit Lions cannot win Super Bowl on a budget

Speaking on the Chasing No. 1 podcast, Johnson explained why he believed Detroit had the necessary pieces during his time with the franchise.

"The biggest thing for me is that, I used to always say, we tell everybody we got the team here in Detroit. We had the dudes, but you can't win a Super Bowl on a budget, man. You got to go all in."

Johnson also pointed to teams making significant moves to add the final pieces needed to compete for a championship.

He then brought up Stafford, who won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in his first season after leaving Detroit.

"We had most of the pieces there in Detroit. And so for me, when he won Super Bowl, literally the first year after he left Detroit, I'm out there like, 'I mean, I told y'all what we had.'"

Stafford's success with the Rams reinforced Johnson's belief that the Lions had been closer to competing for a title than their lack of championship success suggested.

With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Detroit fans are hoping general manager Brad Holmes can strengthen the roster as the team looks to maintain its position in the NFC North.

Johnson's comments also come after years of tension between him and the Lions following his retirement.

The organisation once sought $1.6 million back from his signing bonus after he walked away before completing his contract. However, those differences have since faded.

Johnson has returned to Ford Field to support the team and has earned places on the Lions' All-Time Team and Ring of Honor.

Now, with Detroit still chasing its first Super Bowl title, his message remains clear: having the talent is not enough if the organisation is unwilling to make the moves needed to finish the job.