DK Metcalf motivated by Eagles’ Jim Schwartz telling him he’s not ‘Megatron’

Most people wouldn’t take being told they’re not yet one of the greatest receivers of all time as an insult. DK Metcalf is not most people.

The Seahawks’ second-year receiver caught 10 passes for a season-high 177 yards in Seattle’s Monday night win in Philadelphia. Afterward, he told media about a pregame conversation he’d had with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, one that motivated Metcalf to ball out.

According to Metcalf, Schwartz said, “I was in Detroit with Megatron, but you’re not there yet.”

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Megatron was the nickname of Calvin Johnson, who Schwartz spent time with as the head coach in Detroit. Before retiring at 30, Johnson was considered one of the most physically gifted and productive receivers in NFL history. Johnson is currently a semifinalist in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2021 class.

Metcalf has said in the past that he models his game after Johnson, who at 6-5, 237 pounds compares physically to Metcalf’s 6-4, 229 pounds. Both made headlines at the NFL Combine with their combinations of size, strength and speed. Schwartz was likely paying Metcalf a sideways compliment by saying that he wasn’t Megatron “yet,” but that’s apparently not how Metcalf took it.

Star cornerback Darius Slay guarded Metcalf for most of the night in a hyped-up matchup that Metcalf consistently got the better of, starting with three catches on Seattle’s first drive. Metcalf later got behind Slay for a 52-yard catch that set up a Seahawks touchdown.

The Eagles didn’t really have to add more fuel to Metcalf’s fire, which is already burning strong thanks to his fall to the end of the second round in the 2019 NFL Draft. Philadelphia passed on Metcalf three separate times, including to take a receiver (Stanford’s J.J. Arcega-Whiteside) seven picks before Seattle took Metcalf.

MORE: Looking at the 8 receivers picked ahead of DK Metcalf

Apparently those snubs weren’t enough for Metcalf, though. 

“In my mind, I’m not trying to be Megatron, I’m trying to be me,” Metcalf said. “So I had a little chip on my shoulder the whole game.”