Calvin Johnson proved that, yes, he can dance.

The former Detroit Lions wide receiver made it all the way to the "Dancing With the Stars" finals Monday evening, and is one of three contestants -- along with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe and Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez -- to make Tuesday night's finale, where he will vie for the Mirror Ball Trophy. And considering that Johnson's sister, Erica, once said he had no rhythm, and his former teammates all said they figured this first venture in retirement wasn't going to go well, Johnson did what he set out to do and proved them all wrong.

Johnson wasn’t always perfect -- he and partner Lindsay Arnold made a big mistake in the Viennese Waltz on his first dance of the night -- but his improvement as a dancer was obvious throughout the season.

"Without a doubt," judge Len Goodman said, "the most improved dancer in this final."

On the final Monday of competition, Johnson and Arnold scored 75 of 80 points -- a 35 for the Viennese Waltz, and then, in his final dance of the night, a perfect 40 of 40 in the freestyle.

The freestyle displayed just how far Johnson has come during this season of the show. In a medley that included the Jackson 5 and "Hey, Mr. Postman," Johnson and Arnold had several lifts and different types of dances. There were two treadmills involved, and Johnson threw Arnold over his head to other dancers while on a 23rd Street New York City subway set.

Arnold said she doesn't trust many professional dancers to do some of the lifts she let Johnson do on Monday night. That's how much she has grown to trust Johnson, and with good reason.

That Johnson had made it this far was shocking to most people, even though he showed some potential the first few weeks of the competition. Considering he had rarely danced before -- he didn't even dance when he scored touchdowns for the Lions -- being a finalist is a pretty impressive achievement for the 31-year-old.

"Doing this show, it's helped me," Johnson said in a pretaped interview before the freestyle dance. "I'm actually looking forward to finding that next challenge, finding the next thing that I'm uncomfortable with."

This was really the first part of Johnson's second act, a post-football life where he could theoretically do anything. He could go back and finish his education at Georgia Tech. He could go into business. He could work on building his foundation. Or he could find something, as he said, that makes him uncomfortable and go for it.

He looked truly happy doing the TV show. He looked more relaxed and smiled more in a dozen Mondays than I can remember in almost three seasons covering him. He showed a different, more playful, side. He geeked out at meeting Jaleel White, since Steve Urkel is one of his favorite TV characters. Then in the finale, he couldn't stop laughing when his 2-year-old son surprised him after his first dance.

After some prodding, Johnson even played the trombone on live television. Football-playing Calvin Johnson likely never would have done that.

"Dancing with the Stars" showed that while football was always part of Johnson's life, it never seemed like it was his whole life. And it reminds me of what he said at his football camp in June: The playing-football portion of his life is over. The next phase has just begun.

"I'm not coming back [to football]," Johnson said in June. "You ain't gotta worry about that."

Some comments on the Viennese Waltz, which garnered a 35 of 40:

Len Goodman: Without a doubt, the most improved dancer in this final. Honestly. When I think back, Week 1, you got a 6. You were lucky to get a 6 if I'm honest, but you got a 6. This had such lovely fluidity of movement. It had a charm about it. Your hold has got much better. You've still got to work a little bit on your footwork, but overall, what a fabulous start to the evening.

Julianne Hough: Len said it totally perfectly. You've come so far in this competition, and, I mean, your frame, your posture, your footwork, everything was so much more on point tonight than the first time you did the Viennese Waltz. I remember the first time, we actually didn't get to comment because of the face-off, and I remember I wanted to say I felt I could only keep my eyes on Lindsay. Well, tonight, I could only keep my eyes on you.

Bruno Tonioli: The Big Easy on cloud nine. I love the way you swept your girl off her feet, but you had the loving care of a true gentleman. You really took the lead, which the last time you didn't quite get right. Tonight, you were doing it. You were using the floor beautifully, and you're always so watchable.

Some comments on his freestyle dance, which got a perfect 40 of 40:

Tonioli: After this, straight to Broadway, my darling, to join 'Motown, the Musical.' That was so lovely. It was Calvin's hit parade. What is so clever about this is you, Lindsay, my darling, is that you brought every quality that he has right into focus. Everything was absolutely right.

Goodman: If I was the postman, Calvin, I'd send you a love letter. Listen, freestyle is about entertainment, and it's about dance. There was never in question that you can entertain, and tonight you proved you can dance. That was brilliant.