Iconic Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson shares a pre-game ritual that could have potentially led to his suspension by the NFL (VIDEO)

Johnson, a revered figure in Detroit Lions history, recently admitted that during the latter part of his career, he would smoke marijuana before hitting the field.

During an interview on the ‘RG3 And The Ones' podcast with Robert Griffin III, Johnson revealed that he occasionally played games while under the influence of marijuana to manage his pain.

"Yes, I have," Johnson admitted. "There were some games during my career where I felt like I wouldn't be able to make it through without getting my mind right."

During the 2015 season, his final year in the NFL, Johnson played while under the influence. Despite this, his performance remained strong, with 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns that season.

Johnson retired at the end of the 2015 campaign and has since been honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Comparisons have been drawn to former NFL player Ricky Williams, who faced significant challenges due to his marijuana use during his career.